Mountain advocate., 1914-12-04
THE RURAL
CHI CHURCH
The FARMERS THE cusroplANs
OF TIE NATIONS MORALITY.
cs-oSeratlon Of Church, School and
Press Essential to Community
Building.
BY Peter Radtord


Lecturer National Farmers Union,
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 It's great.
est Blessing. pcwCr and knowledge.
Tbs farmers OF this nation are q satly
indebted to this social triumvirate for
their uplifting influence. and on behalf
or the American plowmen | want to
Thank those engaged in these high
c. linss for their able and efficient
service, and | shall offer to the press
series OF a.ticles on cooperation
between these important influences
and the farmers In the hope Of in.
ersasins 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.
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 ark of the covenant" and
he Is more responsive to religious In
nuences than any other class CT cit.
isenship.
The farmers Of this nation have
buut 10000 churches at a cost OF
S'o0,00o, 600. and the annual eontribu.
ZION OF the nation toward all church
institutions approximates 100000, 600
Der annum. The farmers of the Uni
Ted States build % churches per day.
There are 20,0o0,Q00 rural church corr
uunieants on the farm. and 81 per
cent OF the total membership OF all
churches reside in the country.
The farm is the power-hcuse OF all
progress and The birthplace or all that
Is noble. The Garden of Eden was
IN the country and the man who would
get close to God must fret get close
70 nature.
The Functions Of a Rural Church.
II the rural churches today are 60
Ing 10 render service which this age
demands. there must be cooperation
between the religious social and eco
nomtc life OF the community.
The church to attain Its fullest meas |
pre or success must enrich the lives |
ef the people in the community IL |
serves; ii must build character: devel. |
op thought and increase the efficiency
Of human life Il must serve the So
cisI, business ana intellectual, as well |
a. the spiritual and moral side of life. ,
II religion does not make d man more |
capable, more useful and more Just,
what good is it? We want a practical
religion, one We can live by and farm
by az well as die by.
Fewer and Better Churches.
Blessed lie that rural community
which has but one place OF worship.
While competition Is the life OF trade.
1t is death 10 the rural church and
moral starvation 10 the community.
Petty seC,grianja-7 is a scourge that
blights ID life, ana the church preju-
dice saps the vitality, Of many com.
nnnities. Al oyer-Churched commun-
ity IA 3 crime against religion, a seri-
OILS handbag 70 society ana useless
tax upon agriculture
While denominations are essential
and church pride commendsble, the
high teaching OF universal Christianity
must prevail II the rural church Is TO
saian tts mission 70 agriculture.
We Frequently have three or four
Churches In q community which is not
allie to adequately support one Small
attend services once a
month and all fall to perform the re-
usious functions OF the community.
The division Of religious forces and
he breaking into fragments OF moral
srorts is ofttlmes little less than a
,alsmity and defeats the very purpose
hey seek 10 promote.
The evils OF too many churches can
be minimiSed ~ cooperation. The
'ocial and economic life of a rural
are respective units and
,snnot be successfully divided by de- q
iominstional lines, and the churches
AN only occupy this important field .
" cooperation and coordination.
The efficient country church will .
lennitsly serve its community by lead. q
ns In all worthy efforts at community p
'uilding, In uniting the people In all a
cooperative endeayors for the gen. =
TG welfare OF the community and IN 4
rousing a real love for country life Z
nd loyalty 10 the country home and y
hese results can only be successfully r
ceomplished by the united effort or a.
be Dreaa the aphooI thu nhuroh ana u