Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-27

The first statewide interdenomina-
tional conference of ministers ever held
in Maryland has Just been announced
to meet at the Maryland Agricultural
College at College Park August !, )
and 6.
All ministers of the District of Column
bia, as well as those of Maryland. are
cordially invited to attend. The college
will act as host. The visiting ministers
will be furnished quarters in the dorm;-
tories and will be given their meals at
the roltege dining hall. The minister will
be to no expense except his car fare to
and from College Park. and that at the
minister's half-fd;e rate
The majority of Maryland's thousand
ministers are expected to attend, and to
bring with them suggestions of ways
and means visions of farger usefulness,
hope. inspiration and enthusiasm, which
will make the conference one of vital
help to them in their everyday work.
The college officials realize more and
more that the problem now facing the
country community is not entirely sn
economic one bur thar it is a problem
in which the church has great part;
that it is a religious fro5.em-a problem
well as of producing more corn and
wheat and of raising moss live STOCK
Continually has i. been demonstrated
of late. it is pointed out. that the young
folks are leaving the rural community,
to the detriment OF both themselves dhu
the community
What is the reason?
They want ii is said, Ito go where
q fellow has chance to do something,
where you can have a good time once IN
a While.
Right or wrong as the youth may Ee.
II devolves upon the preacher, the school
teacher and other leaders, it is declared
to develop the social and play-life OF the
rural community
Work of Country Minister.
The country minister, even in COM
munities which now have churches In the
last throes of existence, leaders point
out, have done a great work and little
fault should be found with them. NO
other body of men can be found today SO
self-sacrticinS as the overWorkeo anu
poorly paid circuit minister.
Here and there the example is shown
OF a country minister who has accom-
plished wonderful results. He has rebuilt
his community around the church as
center. His church thrives because II
helps the people to obtain the things they
long for-social brotherhood, companion
ship, play-life and recreation, as we'll as
more light on things eternal and spiritual
But too often his work, it is said, al
fects his own community alone, whereas
his experience should be of help to all ms
fellow-mniSterS.
The program of the coming conference
is so arranged that each topic will be
introduced by fifteen to thirty minute
address by one of the specialists and then
will be turned over to free-for-al discus
sion. More than half the time is thus
taken up by round tables, in which ques-
tons may be asked, experiences related
and debatable points thrashed out.
The leaders of the topics are regarded
as persons of broad practical experience,
they having met the problems, not as
Missionaries, but as workmen. and are CIV
ing their untiring effort to find a common
sense solution.
The list includes DR.. T. n. Carver. d.
rector of rural organization service in the
United States Department of Agriculture;
Mr.. Henry Israel of the international
committee of Y NJ. c. A. and editor of
Rural Manhood; Miss Anna B. Taft. as
sistant to DIR. Warren H. Wilson of the
department of church and country life of
the Presbyterian board of home missions;
Rev. Charles o. Denies of McClelland-
town. Pa, pioneer worker. who has had
much success in rebuilding country COM
munities: Prof. Willet NJ Hays. former
assistant secretary of agriculture; Mr.
j. D. Van Scotch, interstate secretary of
the Y. NJ. C. A. of Maryland, Delaware
and West Virginia: Dr. H j. Patterson
president of Maryland Agricultural Col
lege: Rev. Ward Plat of the board of
home missions and church extension of
the Methodist Episcopal Church: Mr. B.
H. barrow. general secretary of the
Maryland Agricultural College Y. M c.
A. and Mr. ]. E. Metzger, professor of