The Meeker herald., 1914-12-12
ISOLATION AND ORUDG.
ERYTHE TW|nENEnIES
Of AGRICULTURE.
The Rural Church the euidias
Star Of Progress.
the EwRuRAL CIVILIZATION

the NEW RURAL CIVILIZATION
" Peter Radsord
| Lecturer Nstlonai Fsrznsrs' Unioa
We are confronting = new rural
civilization. II y 20 radically di3er.
ent from the life Of the past that Il
may we'll be called new. not merely
because Of its characteristics. but be.
cause Of its triumph in rural co-opera-
tion and leadership. The utilization
Of modern agencies. and the use OF
farm machinery have greatly incrcas-
ed the efficiency Of the farmers. broad
ensd their vision and made life more
satisfying.
The most serious enemies to coun-
try life are isolation and drudgery. and
perhaps the worst of the two 10 iso-
lat.on. II il the curse Of the coun.
try. The hunger Of young people for
companionship has been disregarded
and in various ways the social In
stincts have had their revenge. The
fruits Of modern inventive skin and
enterprise have enriched country life
and afforded the facilities Of banish-
ing forever the extreme isolation
which used to vex the farm houss-
fhold of the past. Tho telephone In .
great social asset In the rural home:
the rural free delivery brings the
worlds daily message to the door; the
parcels post delivers ten million pack.
ages per annum At = half million
homes. and the automobile annihilatsS
distance. making Isolation q myth.
The building Of public highways has
brought communities and farm homes
closer together.
The slave Of prudssry.
It is = dramatic moment on the
farm when machinery emancipates
the slave Of drudEery. The evolution
OF farm machinery IL continued
story Of human ingenuity. One man
now. by the aid Of modern mechanical
devices. can do as much A nve or
ten men used to perform and tbs
work IL less burdsnsome and moro
fascinating. The miracle Of conquest
will lift the curse Of drudgery that
has crushed the courage out Of farm
boys and caused them to retreat to the
cities. There are many labor-saving
devices for the homes that can relieve
the wife 0f back-breaking tasks. La
bor-saving machinery has wrought
educational problems that have On.
gagged the attention Of the boys. re-
lisvsd the housewife and added new
economics and values to farming and
has taken away self pity and given
them . genuine pride in their calling.
We need to take full advantage Of
these facilities.
Cooperation the ks,.Nsts.
One test Of modern civilization il
the capacity for cooperation. The
selfish days Of the Independent farm.
er are rapidly passing and We are be-
ginning to catch the vision and share
the profits Of organized efforts. There
are many farm machines adapted to
serving . community. but orsani:a.
ton Of farmers il required to pur.
chase and operate them on q cooper.
ative basis, and new laws are needed
to permit these transactions.
New Tasks for the Rural Church.
The raral church has been slow to
adjust itself to the new order OF
things. The churches are discover
| ing new opportunities for service.
broader community usefulness and
greater social mission. The church
must grid itself for new tasks and
under . nav virile type Of Leadership
undertake real community building
with the modern church ~ the center
Of activity and source Of inspiration
and guidance. The triumph over iso-
lation and the gradual emancipation
from drudsery. the development Of
good roads, telephones. rural mail scr.
vice and the wonderful. evolution Of
farm machinery make for religious
advancement. The increase in intel.
uxsuce, new social consciousness.
growing spirit OF cooperation. added
efficiency Of rural Institutions, char.
acter, home building and better rural
morals afford opportunities for com.
munity-serving church to demonstrate
its power. The rural church to full.
MI its mission must swing around It
the influences for progress.
Take good roads for your text and