The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1914-12-04
THE RURAL
"'I CHURCH
rHG FARMGRs rnG CUSTODIAN
o. Thg NATIONS MORALITY.
ce-opsratiea - Church, School and
Prsss Gsssatisi 10 Community
Building.


Dy Peter Rsdeord
Lecturer National Farmer Union.
The church. the prsss and the school
form . triple alliance Of progress that
guides the destiny Of every commun-
lily. state and nation without them
civilization would withsr and die and
through them life may attain Its great
est blessing. power aud knowledge.
The farmers Of this nation are greatly
indebted TO this social triumvirate for
their uplifting influence. and on behalf
of the American plowmea I 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-
tuai undertaking and organized e.
fort We viii take up. FIRST. the rural
church.
The Farmers Ars Crest Church Build
The American farmer 10 the ereatest
church builder the world has ever
known He II the custodian OF the
nations morality: upon his shoulder
rests the ark OF the covenant and
ne 10 more responsive to religious In
nuences than any other class of cit
izenship.
The farmers Of this nation have
built 100000 churches at q cost of
$7eo.o00. 900. and the annual contribu-
ton OF the nation toward ell church
institutions approximates t400. 00c. 900
per annum- The farmers OF the Uni
ted States build ~ churches Der dav.
There are 10000. 900 rural church com
municants on the firm. and 81 Der
cent OF the total membership OF all
churches reside In the country.
The farm II the powerhouse OF all
progress and the birthplace OF ali that
ID 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 % . Rural Church.
II the rural churches today are TO
Ing to render . 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, fullest meas-
are OF success must enrich the lives
OF the people In the community Il
serves: IL must build character; devei-
op thought and increase the efficiency
OF human life II must serve the 90
ciai. business and intellectual - well
- the spiritual and moral side OF life.
II religion does not make Q man more
capable. more useful and more just.
what good II Il? We want . practical
religion. one We can live By and farm
By. ~ well - die py.
Fewer and Better Churches.
Blessed - that rural community
which has but one place Of worship.
While competition In the life Of trade.
IL 10 death to the rural church and
moral starvation to the community.
Petty sectarfanism 10 q scourge that
blights the life. and the church pretu-
dice saps the vitality. OF many COM
munities- An over-churched commun-
fty Ii . crime against religion. q ssri-
Gus handicap to society and q useless
tax upon agriculture.
While denominations are essential
and church pride commendable. the
high teaching OF universal Christianity
must prevail II the rural church a to
fulfill its mission to agriculture.
We frequently have three or four
CHURCHES in . community which 10 not
able to adequately support one Small
congregations attend services once q
month and all fail to perform the re-
ngious functions OF the community.
The division Of religious forces and
the breaking into fragments Of moral
efforts 10 Outlines little less than q
1 calamity and defeats the very purpose
they seek to promote.
be minimized by cooperation The
social and economic life OF Q rural
community are respective units and
ca6dot Be successfully divided By de-
nominationai lines. and The churches
can only occupy this important field
By cooperation and coordination
The efhcient country church win
definitely serve its community By lead
ing In all worthy efforts at community
building. I'm uniting the people In all
cooperative endeavors for the gen.
erni welfare Of the community and IN
arousing q real love for country iifs
and loyalty TO the country home and
these results can only be successfully
accomplished By the united effort OF
the press. the school. the church and
cvEnstsed farnersL