Crittenden record-press., 1914-12-03
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 a 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 10 this social triumvirate for
their uplifting influence, and on behalf
OF the American plowmen | want to
thank those engaged In these high
callings 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 ia the custodian OF the
nations moralityl upon his shoulders
rests the ark Of the covenant and
he Ia more responsive TO religious In.
fuences than any other class OF cit
izenship
The farmers OF this nation have
I,.tI gIn ~ ~
s75OO0JOOO. and the annual contribu.
ton OF the nation toward all church
Institutions approximates S2OOOO00OO
per annum The farmers OF the Uni
ted States build 22 churches per day.
There are 2O.OOOOOO rural church com.
municauts on the farm, and "a per
cent Of the total membership Of all
churches reside in the country.
The farm is the powerhouse Of all
progress and the birthplace Of all that
is noble The Garden Of Eden was
I'm the country and the man who would
get close to God must first get close
TO nature
The Functions Of a Rural Church.
II the rural churches today are go
Ing to render a service which this age
demands there must be cooperation
between the religious. social and eco
nomic lie OF the community
The church TO attain It's fullest meas
ure OF success must enrich the livei
OF the people In the community II
serves: q must build character, deyel
on thought and increase the efficiency
of human life Il must serve the So
cial business and intellectual as wei
as the spiritual aud moral side Of life
n religion does not mas. 8 man NOR,
capable more useful and more just
what good Is ite We want practcD
religion. one Hc can live 10y and farm
by. az well as die uv
Fewer and GeUsr Churches.
Blessed ,s Lat rural commuuiu
which bias but one p'aeo OF Worship
While competition ls the life of trad,
it is death Co the rural church au
moral starvation 90 the community
Petty scc'ar.aulsm ls fcourge tina
bWehts the l.io, and tuC church prejJ
die, saps the vitality OF many con
muuitics An over CGurCuyd commui
ity isa crime against religion. q ser
ous handicap Ja society sad o. us,ios
] tax upon agriculture
While denominations are ossouti.
and church pride JomwOrdabI0 Oh
/ hleh tJacuur of universal Ohr.siau'i
7 must prevail 90 tbg rural church is
mlull lts mission Co agriculture
We frequently have three or io'
churches in % community which Ia n,
n able TO- adequately support one Sma
! CONGREGATIONS attend services once
4 month and al fal 90 perform the !
, rrirus functions OF tb, Cummunii
- The division OF religious forces 90
the breaking into fragments ui NOR
efforts is ofttImcg little irs, than
rs calamity and defeats the very purpo
they seek to promote
nee The evils ot too many churches c
4,. be- mium ed by cooperation II
' social and economic life o' rui
'o community are respective units a
lay cannot b, succcss'uby divided by
,f nomiuatiuuM lines and the chuych
. ., can ouly occupy thIs important III
'iu by cooperation and coordination
nl The efficient country church "
.r. definitely serve i,s community by lc'
.,. Ing In all worthy efforts %, commun
''' building tn uniting the people Ia
on cooperative ,uj,ayors for the 3
,.l. pral welfare ot the community and
,., arousng real love for country
'' and loyalty to the country home d
ter these results can only be succossfu
p to accomplished by the united caort
"a, the press the school. the church
organized farmers