Imperial Valley press., 1914-02-18
Haskin Letters
(By Frederic J. Haskin)

The first decade of the present CEN
tury marked the beginning of organ
lied interest in rural church improve
ment, although its need had been ad-
vocated by far-sighted leaders lit
tie earlier. In this short period some
remarkable results have been secured,
chiefly through the efforts of num-
ber of organizations which are lend
ing their aid to the movement. Their
efforts are being managed with re-
markable wisdom, so that, while they
represent many denominations and
classes of workers, little waste occurs
from overlapping. Each year the or
ganization and cooperation between
them becomes better systematized.
One of the earliest organizations
working for rural betterment was the
New England Country Church Assocl-
alton, of which Professor Thomas
Nixon Carver of Harvard university
was the first president. This organi-
cation has held large annual meet
ings, at which free expression has
been given to opinions as to the best
means of solving rural church prob
lens. Several other organizations
have grown out of this, and the as
sociation has furnished the ideas for
MANY efforts which have now been
placed upon a successful working ba-
sis. The federation idea for country
churches is one of these, and Con-
ference of Union Churches, which has
now had three annual sessions, is de-
voting its efforts toward overcoming
the difficulties of consolidation in COM
munities in which religious develop
ment is being retarded by over-church-
ing. The conference membership in
cludes ministers and laymen of union
churches which have been formed by
the federation of two or more denom-
nations.
The Young Mems Christian Associ-
alton is one of the strongest organlza-
tions working for rural religious i'm
provement, and all of its efforts are
being carried on in cooperation with
the local churches. The association is
now expending over $350,0O0 annually
upon its country work, in which over
a hundred trained workers are en-
gagged in directing the efforts of hun
dreds of volunteers. The association
has over $500 rural Improvement or
scattered over twenty
four states 1t has held four annual
Country Life conferences under the
direction of these county secretaries.
The last one. held in New York in No
vember, included in its attendance
over a hundred rural life experts,
representing different UNCONVENTIONAL
bodies, the United States Department
of Agriculture, the Bureau of Educa
ton, the leading theological seminar
les, the religious and agricultural
press. as well as representatives OF
the Young Mems and Young Women's
Christian Associations.
One of the means by which the as
socis ton strives to create interest is
by the establishment of athletics in
with the rural churches. In
many towns lawlessness of different
kinds has been almost overcome by
the establishment of a baseball team
under the direction of the Y. M. &. A.
secretary and the village pastor. The
church needs the cooperation of the
boys and young men of the commun-
itv cutie as much as they need the
church. The development of a clean,
healthy athletic spirit may bring this
about. The Methodist preacher, UNI
piring a baseball game, who tossed up
a quarter to decide who won honors
when the game was a tie and it was
too dark for play, had stronger
hold upon the boys of the community
than the best sermon in the world
could have won for him.
In some counties, the association
cooperate with the pastor
in organizing the athletics by supply
ing the equipment, the church pro-
viding the meeting place. They work
also towards establishing the Satur-
day alf-holiday in which the boys
and men may be free from their farm
work to play ball or seek other amuse-
ment One of the chief drawbacks to
country life to the young people is its
lack of recreation, and the church and
the association can do much to remedy
this. The association is now publish
ing a monthly entitled "Rural Man
hood" which is devoted to the pro-
motion of rural Christianity.
The Federal Council of Churches
has a commission on country life
which is preparing the way for a great
rural religious effort in
which each of the great denOmina-
tions will be equally represented. This
of fort will he ha sod larOplU unon SIIr-