Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-07-31
Must Stop Drawing Rural Boys
To The City.
One Or The PROBLEMS THAT WILL BE Dis
cUSSED AT COUNTRY LIFE CONFERENCE
MINISTERS MUST STEP In AND HELP.


Although the Country Life Conference Of
Maryland Ministers to be held at the Mary
land Agricultural College on August 4, S
and will be in the nature of an innova-
ton in this State, it promises to be splen-
did success, and much advance interest is
being shown in it.
The Conference, besides being the occa-
sion for many instructive addresses by
prominent clergyman and authorities on
country life, will furnish the ministers a
means for the intercommunication of ideas
concerning rural pastorates. etc. that. it is
considered. will be of great practical value.
The speakers will include DR.. Thomas N.
Carver of Harvard University, president of
the New England Country Church Associa-
ton; Henry Israel. editor of Rural Man
hood DR.. c. O. Bemis of McClellantown,
Pa; p. P. Claxton. United States Com
missioner of Education; Rev. Ward Plat,
OF the Methodist Board of Home Missions,
and others of equal prominence. The con-
terence will be held under the auspices Of
the Agricultural College and the ministers
will be entertained at its expense.
b. II. barrow, general secretary of the
College Y. NJ C. A., is enthusiastic over the
outlook for the Conference.
1.-THE promoters of the Conference" he
said. have no dream that it will bring
about immediate and pronounced change
in the church life of Maryland. They
realize that only thoughtful and vigorous
effort over a period of years will materially
change rural community.
Nevertheless, much should be accom-
plished by this meeting of men intent on
knowing more about the problem that they
may be better able to cope with it. Every
minister in the State has been invited, and
scores are gladly embracing the opportu-
nifty
Farmers, too, are manifesting their in
terest and not only the men but the
women. The farmers wife can tell of
hard work, worry and disappointment with
but little opportunity for indulging the
finer sensibilites of her nature. She is
too often bound down by the tedious rou-
tine of daily duties, and her naturally
social nature is like a spring walled up at
its source.
"The farmer bOy-jolly, care free country
bOy-wish were back there again say
thousand cliff-dwellers of our crowded cities.
"Yes, but what does the country boy
say Cash This place is so dead that it'll
dry up and blow away some Of these times
And his opinion, not yours or mine, deter
mines what he will do.
1.-THE country can spare quite a bit of
its energy and pluck and good red blood.
But the city has already drafted so many
country stars into its league with tempting
contracts and bonuses that the Agricultu-
raj League makes poor showing in many
hamlet and town. This drafting must
stop-Peter must not be robbed to pay
Paul. especially when Peter owes naught to
Paul.
1.-THE only way to stop il is to compete
boldly with the city. 1t must make the
country neighborhood pleasant, an inter-
estine place in which to live. This does
not mean that city life should be aped,
but that there should be more amusements,
more play life, more games. more social
affairs.
THE farm will not loose financially by
it, but the boy and girl will feel the chal-
lenge of the country. The drafting will
cease then and the country come into its
own.
rs this not one of the ministers prom
lens 1t is but one of several phases of
the question that will be taken up by the
assembled ministers"