The chronicle=news., 1914-09-22
THE RURAL PASTOR
Intelligent and conseerated Leader.
ship the Need Of the Hour.
BY Peter R1dford
Lecturer National Farmers Union

The rural pastor has greater possi-
bilities than any other factor In our
national life. The rural civilization
of the Twentieth Century has opened
up new world Of activities for him.
There lie before him unexplored con-
tinents of usefulness. unemployed
forces Of civilization and tremendous
responsibilities such as have never
before confronted the pastorate.\
The need Of the rural communities
today is Intelligent and consecrated
leadership. There must be marshal
ling Of forces that build life. strength
en- character and broaden vision. The
pastor should deal with living prob
lens. In addition to the service he
now renders he should help us lift
the market basket. hold out a help
Ing hand to the farmer and develop
the potential energies of the commun-
lty he seeks to serve.
A More Useful Ministry.
The farmer needs the personal
touch Of the pastor. He seldom
comes in direct contact with his hal
lowing influence. except when he is
baptized. married and buried. We
fuence in the homes. as well as to
spread the gospel in China; to in
struct our children in the art Of liv-
Ing. as well as to convert the barbar-
ian and the Hottentot. and we should
devote our energy and talent to the
solution of problems Of our own 10.
cality, rather than consume our en-
srgies In fighting vice and Ignorance
beyond our borders. 1t Is as import
ant that we discuss from the pulpit,
the building OF macadam highways
from the church to our homes. as
that we preach OF the golden streets
Of the New Jerusalem. 1t Is as much
Z part Of the duty Of the pastor to
sxhort US to own a home while on
earth as to inspire us to build man.
sIon in the skies and that we should
own community. rather than that We
fight foreign sins In other lands. We
want religion we can farm by as
we'll as die by.
Christian Influence Needed.
There Is an emptiness in the life
of rural communities and we want
preachers who can weave into the
social fibre. educational pastimes.
profitable pleasures and Instructive
amusements. Too often we find the
games Of our young people search
for suggestion in immornlity and
! stepping stone to sin. The pastor
should supervise the growing lives Of
young people. approve their amuse-
ments. create expressions of Joy and
pleasure that make Of Christian
character and bless their lives with
Christian modesty.
The farm is the nursery of civili-
.ation. and the parsonage Of all re-
.igious denominations. Too long has
he farm furnished the cities with
heir great preachers. until today the
rural church is the gangway to city
oulpits. The current should be re-
gersed. The power of the pulpit is
most needed In the country where
he fundamental forces of human life
originate. The farm is the power
house of all progress and the birth
place of all that is noble. The Gar.
len of Eden was in the country and
he man who would get close to God
must first get close to nature. Many
communities are church-ridden. We
frequently have three or four churches
n q community with circuit ride,
,nce a month preaching to small con-
,regations and all fail to perform the
.aligious functions OF the community
n many instances. more harmonious
Effort might result in more efficient
,ervice. The division OF religious
orces and breaking into fragments Of
moral effort is ofttimes little less than
IL calamity and defeats the purposes
hey seek to promote.
A pastor in a neighborhood. study
ng the economic. social. moral and
educational problems Of the commun-
ty, presenting fresh visions of poten-
iaI possibilities and native power
With beauty and new meaning. inter
,reting the thought-life Of the CON-
nunity and administering to their
iaily needs. will contribute more to-
ward the advancement OF locality
| nan u uOZch "ho oICupy
he pulpits at irregular intervals.
reaching on subjects foreign to the
ife of the community.
Church prejudice is a vice that
laps much of the spiritual life Of a
community, and wasteful sectarian-
SIN ia religious crime against So
.iety. UNCONVENTIONAL reciprocity
should take its place. Non.support
If church institutions and religious
ethargy can often be traced to causes
Inherent with the church. There
,hould be cooperation between
churches and coordination Of moral
effort along economic lines, and there
must be II the rural churches OF this
,tate are going to render . service
which this age demands.