The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-10-08

il was not on the basis of doctrine. nor
for the purpose of becoming exponents
of particular theories. They were vol
untary gatherings Of people aetnsted
by the spirit which Jesus showed, and
their banding together was for the eco
nomie use Of their opportunities, and
for mutual assistance in times of need.
The same basis of organization Is pUss-
ible in the average rural community OF
the present day. and rural Christendom
will not be disloyal to convictions II Il
ceases to endure the desdening infiu-
enee of division.
The strong devotees Of any church
need feel no alarm about consolidation,
nor think that the ideas they cherish
will be obscured by contact with phases
of religious thinking emphasized by
other people. Indeed. they might be
glad of the opportunity which fedora
tion affords to reveal the benefits of
their positions in the midst OF others.
The only ones who need fear sre those
who have a narrow view Of their church
position. or such as have personal In.
terests to defend. Vital principle need
not be sacrificed.
While distractions are somewhat pro-
nouneed, and discoursgements not a
few. the outlook is anything but hope
less. AS time passes the objecting
minority will grow smaller and small
er; the church officials will eventually
become sensitive to the pulse of the
people at large and consider their in
tersts rather than the desire of the
very few; the missionary boards ARE
becoming more and more cautious in
new moves and will eventually realize
that it is their privilege to withdraw
altogether from the American churches
of the Pacific slope. Then will the
rural centers soon show their ability TO
meet their own demands. and the relig
Ious and social developments for which
the several societies. ..have striven will
go on apace. In this progress the past
help of the board" will not be forgot
ten.
In conclusion we would briefly sum-
marize the advantages of federation
of churches" in country places. Even
in the midst of present difficulties, ad-
vantages are showing up so prominent
ly that adjustments are sure to null
tiply. 1t is not very many years since
there was but one consolidated rural
school; now there are over one thous-
and, and the number is increasing.
The community churches of today are
very few in number, but before ten
years have passed they will be all over
the land, and the countryside will have
come to its own. Among the far
reaching influences ther is that broader
fellowship which once experienced we
cannot get along without. In the
words of one of my parishioners, those
having tasted will ask, why didn't we
do it before?" "How could we ever
go back to the old way?" We become
fully satisfied with Jesus simple test
of Christian character: "By this shall
all men know that ye are my disciples,
by the love ye have one for the other. "
In one part of my parish chief worker
was a Covenanter Presbyterian, in an
other part the right hand man was an
aged Wesleyan Methodist exhorter. |
knew that in all details of thought we
could not have agreed any more than
can agree in all things with my near
est Baptist friend, but we believed in
each other. When it came to lift, we
found that the enthusiasm of the Meth
odist had not wasted his strength. He
took his full share. Nor did the cul-
ture and moderation of the Presbyter-
ian keep him away from the real en-
deavor. We found him where the
drudgery was hardest. So [ might go
on in description of men of many
names. men who but for federation
would not have experienced each
others strength. We worshiped the
same God, we worked for the same
cause, neighborhood betterment, and
perhaps one day when the words Bap-
tist. Methodist, and Prcsby terian are
forgotten we may meet in that great
community center, in that city of which
the Apocalypse says, 81 saw no Tenn
Pile therein" My flesh thrills with
the thought of it. At times the writer
has known what it Twas to experience
some Inconvenience on account of his
pronounced views on rural church fed
eration," but he considers the incon-
veniences more than paid for by the
privilege for broader fellowship which