Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1914-1915, 1914-12-17
u911Tu6
CHURCH
THE FARMERS THE cUsToDlANs
OF THE NATIONS MORALITY.
Cooperation Of Church, School and
Press Essential to Community
Building.
"91"16
BY Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers Union.

y ToSor naot0TU
Lecturer National Farmers' Union.
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 it's 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 plowmen I 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 eff
fort. We will take up, first, the rural
church.
The Farmers Are Great Church Build
The American farmer is the greatest
AuASn Out4ACA IN WOIlu udS 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
f1uences than any other class of cit
izenship.
The farmers OF this nation have
built 100000 churches at a cost of
$3.50 GOO 900. and the annual contribu-'
ton of the nation toward all church,
institutions approximates 5000, 600, 900,
! per nun The farmers of the Uni.
ted States build % churches per day.
There are 10000, 900 rural church COM
municants on the farm, and "a 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.
If the rural churches today are 60
ing to render q service which this age
demands, there must be cooperation
between the religious, social and eco
nomic life of the community.
The church to attain its fullest meas
ure of success must enrich the lives
of the people in the community it
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 aide Of life
II religion does not make q man more
capable, more useful and more Just
what good is 1t? We want q practical
religion. one we can live by and farm
By, az, we'll at die by.
81: Fewer and Better Churches.
Blessed Is that rural community
which has. but, one place Of worship
While4competition. IL, the. life. o., trade
it Is death to the rural. church apt
moral starvation to- the community
Petty tsectarianism' 10, a seourgs tina
blights the life. and the church. preju
dice .saps the; vitality, yo1 many com
munities. An ovel-churehed commun
ity, lisa crime against. religion. . seri
Gus handicap to society and . useles!
tax upon agriculture.
While denominations are essentia
and church pride commendable, tn.
high teaching Of universal CHRISTIANS.
must prevail: If the rural church is t.
fulall Its mission to agriculture.
We Frequently have three or .toul
churches in q Community which is NO
able, to adequately. support one. Small
congregations attend services once I