Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-12-03
The RURAL
CHURCH
THE FARMERS THE cusT0nlANs
or THE NATIONS MORALITY
Cooperation Of Church. sehocl and
Press Essential ID Community
Building
~ psser Fsacfors

~ NNKnr F4ACf0F1
Lecturer Natianai Farmers Union.
The church. the press and the school
form triple alliance of progress chat
guides the da4tiny Of every cornmun
ity. state and nation Without them
civilization would wither and die and
through them lie may attain its great.
est blessing. power and knowledge.
The farmers Of this nation arc greatly
indebted To this social triunlvirate Tor
their uplifting iniiuenca. and on hehall
OF fhe American plowuen | want Id
thank those engaged n theae high
callings for their able and efficient
service. and shall ofEar IL the press
series Of articles Oh cooperation
between these important Influences
and the farmers N the hope Of IA.
creasing the efficiency of ali By nau.
tual understanding and organized ii.
tort We VIII takk ID. first. the rural
church
TIE Earmers Are Great Church 9uIld.
eFs.
The American farmer iii the greatest
church bssildef the world has ever
known. He ii the custodian of the
nations morality; upon his shoulders
rests the s'ark of the covenant ana
be 10 more responsive to religious III.
ti,lances than any other claas of Git.
igsnship
The farmers az this nation have
/ built l2a.a10 churches Rt cost of
/ s775o,uuo, 900. and the annual contsibu.
tion of the nation toward MI chnrca
institutions approximates 500. oOO. oea
/ per annum. The farmers cf the Uni.
ted States build ~ churches per dag.
/ There are 2e.0o0 600 rural church com.
4 mnnicants on this farm. and 5s per
cent Of the total membership of ali
churches reside hi the country
The farm N tho powerhonse os all
j F-ogress and the birfhplace Of all that
4 Ii mos The Garden DE Eden was
In the country sni the man VINO would
get close to God mus tiras YET cioao
j 10 nature
II The Functions on d Rural Church..
/ II the rural churches today are 80.
i Ing TO render d service which this age
demands. there must be cooperation
between the religious. social ard ego
i homie life or the community
THE church to attain ite fullest meas.
are of success must enrich the iivaa
/ or the people lii the community III
serves; II must haiId character; devei-
op thought ard increase the efficiency
of human life. Ii must serve the 30
cial. business and intellectual, as well
rs the spiritual and moral side of life
II religion doe not rake 4 man nore
capable, more ussfai ana more Jnst,
what coed is it, We wasss practical
religion, one we can live by and farm
BY. as well as die BY.
Fewer ard Better Churches
Blessed Ii that rural community
which has but one place OF Worship.
While competition ID the life or trade,
Ii lis death to The rural church and
moral starvation to she community.
Petty sectarsanism Ii scourge that
Eblights the life. and the church prejn-
dice saps the vitality. of many com
Imunifies Az overehurched carnmnn.
lity IA a>crifne against religion, d seri.
ous handicap to society and useless
tax upon agriculture.
While denominations are essential
and church pride commendable. the
high teaeAing on universal Christianity
must prevail IL the rural church In t.
fulfill It's mission 70 agriculture
We frequently have three or four
{ churches In community which liz not
: able to adequately support one. Small
} congregations attend services once q
/ month and all tail to perform the re
\ ligious functions Of the community.
The division Oh religious forces and
the breaking lrto fragments of moral
efforts Is ofttimes little less than 4
calamity and defeats the very purpose
they seek to promote.
The evils Of too many churches can
be unlimited by cooperation The
! social and economic life or a rural
community are respective units and
cannot be successfully divided by de.
numtnational lines, ard the churches
can only occupy this important field
By cooperation ard coordination
The efficient country church will
definitely serve It's community BY lead.
lng in al worthy efforts at community
building In uniting the people IN AL
cooperative endeavors for the gen
i eral welfare Of fhe community and In
srousing real love for country life
: and loyalty to the country home and
/ these results can only be successfully
accomplished by the united effort D.
the press. the school. the church and
organized farmers