Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1914-12-24
THE RURAL
CHURCH
3
THE FARMERS THE cusToDiANs
OF THE NATIONS MORALITY.
Cooperation 81 Church, School and
Prsss Esssntlal % Community
'Dulldlno.

Lecturer Natfonal Farmero' 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 its great.
est blessing. power and knowledge
The farmers Of this nation are greatly
Indebted to this social triumvirate for
their uplifting influence, and on behalf
Of the American plowmen l want to
thank those engaged in these high
callings for their able and efficient
service, and shall offer to the press
o series of articles on cooperation
between these important influences
and the farmers in the hope of in.
creasing 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 lark Of the covenant" and
he is more responsive to, religious in
nuences than any other class Of cit
isenship.
The farmers Of this nation have
built 10000 churches ct Z cost Of
e76o.000. 900. and the annual contribu.
don Of the natioa toward al church
Institutions approximatss 500, 00o. 900
~ amman. The farmers Of the Unit
~ States build q churches per dav.
SAses ~ 3eyeoe.e ~ rural church Con.
0uAieants On tAe harm, and g ~
esot q ~ tstal msmbersAip Of IN
tAsssAes rssi1s u tAe country.
n faSm - he pover.house Of IN
DrogreD aa6 ~ birtAplaos Of IN hat
4 noble. ~ Garden Of EA&n va
= ~ eo1ntsy 80 he man Who vo~ld
81 e3ees - De- must Arst sst Close
= nAt1Fo
m evneeleAe q Nurai Church.
II ths rasal churches today are "a.
hs to render service which this age
esnan9s. there must b cooperation
between the religious, social ana eco
nomic NE Of The community.
The church 70 attain it, fullest msas-
~ q socceos must enrich the lives
1t he people II the community IL
serves; It must build character; devel-
- thought al increase the efficiency
q human HE. Il must serve the %.
sal. business and intellectual, - we'll
- Tie spiritual aaA moral side OF lie.
u religion does not make . man more
capable, moro useful and more Just.
what good = Il? We want . practical
religion. one We can i've by and farm
b, ~ we'll ~ die By.
Fsssoe aad Setter churches.
Blessed b that rural community
which has aut one place Of worship.
while competition u The life Of trade,
n 10 death 70 the rsEal church and
moral starvation TO the community.
feety eectariAaisn u . scourge that
ehshts IL HE. and ~ church preju-
aice saps ths vitality. Of many COM
munities. Al .overchurched commun-
NY 70 crine against religion. 4 seri- !
Gus handicap 70 society and Z useless
tax upon agriculture.
While deaominations ere essential
and church pride oommsndable, the
eash teaching q universal Christianity
must prevail u the, rural church 10 to
fainll ito missosa q agriculture.
We frequently have three or four
sasrehss IN . es0munlty which u not
sess to a6eQualsoy ouppoet one. Small
eonsrsgations attend services once =
meath ga a. IN = rerform The r.
- see 9 reaosees torees ana
80. II 49, naonsess Of moral |
salanily asl 1eosaHs ~ vesy ,r,poee
Aoy oook e RoAoHA >,