The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-11-05
THE RURAL
CHURCH
THE FARMERS THE cUSToDlANS
OF THE NATIONS MORALITY.
Cooperation of Church, School and
Press Essential to Community
Building.
BY Peter Radford.

AcCtuECk ANdtiOuii i..tio Ohioh.
The church. the press and the school
form 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 to this social triumvirate for
their uplifting influence, and on behalf
Of the American plowman want to
thank those engaged in these high
callings for their able and efficient
service, and shall offer to the press
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
auences than any other class of cit
izenship.
The farmers of this nation have
built 10000 churches at cost of
t750,0O0,00O, and the annual contribu-
ton Of the nation toward all church
institutions approximates $200,OOO,OOO
per annum. The farmers of the Unit
ed States build % churches per day.
There are 20,000000 rural church COM
municants on the farm, and 54 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 a Rural Church.
II 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 mea-
: sure of success must enrich the lives
, of the people In the community 1t
serves; it must build character devel-
: op thought and increase the efficiency
, Of human life. 1t 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 we'll as die by.
Fewer and Better Churches.
[ Blessed Is that rural community
n which has but one place of worship
). While competition is the life of trade
1t Is death to the rural church anC
= moral starvation to the community
: Petty sectarianism is scourge thai
blights the life, and church preju
dice saps the vitality of many com
!. munities. An over-churched commun
! ty is a crime against religion, seri
T GUS handicap to society and useles!
tax upon agriculture.
;, While denominations are essentia
e and church pride commendable, thu
high teaching of universal Christianit.
must prevail if the rural church is tt
fulfill its mission to agriculture.
We frequently have three or fou
churches in community which is no
able to adequately support one. Small
congregations attend services once
month and all fail to perform the re
) ligious functions of the community
, The division of religious forces an
& the breaking into fragments of mora
r effort is ofttimes little less than
3 calamity and defeats the very purpos
] they seek to promote
Is The evils Of too many churches ca
n be minimized by cooperation. Th
II social and economic life of a rurs
If community are respective units an
,e cannot be successfully divided by d.
W nominational lines, and the churche
can only occupy this important fel
by cooperation and coordination.
e. The efficient country church wi
definitely serve its community by lea'
ing In all worthy efforts at communit
building, in uniting the people In a
r. cooperative endeavors for the gel
Sc eral welfare of the community and
,h arousing a real love for country Iii
and loyalty to the country home an
these results can only be successful
accomplished by the united effort ,
st the press, the school, the church an
organized farmers.
A Condition.
W Geraldine-I will marry you on OF
VI condition.