Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1914-12-18
THE RURAL
-' h0UnE II
THE FARMERS THE cUsToD,Ane
OF THE NATIONS MORALITY.
Cooperation of Church, Schoo, and
Press Essential to Community
Building.
BY Peter Radford


form triple alliance of progress tina
guides the destiny of every commun
ity, state and nation. Without then
civilization would Wither and die anl
through them life may attain its great
est blessing, power and KNOWLEDGE
Inc farmers of this nation are greatly
indebted to this social triumvirate TO,
tnelr uplifting influence, and on behalf
OF the American plowmen T want r.
thank those engaged in these high
calnngs for their able and efficient
service. and l shall offer to the nress
series ut articles on cooperation
between these important influences
ana the farmers in the nope of in
creaslng the efficiency of all by mn
tuai understanding and organized ef-
fort We will take up, first, the rura,
church
Inc Farmers Are Great Church Build
erS.
Inc american farmer Is the greatest
hurch Dulider the world has ever
aoWn. He is the custodian of the
atoms morality; upon his shoulders
9sts the ark Of the covenant" and
ne is more responsive to religious in
huences than any other class Of off.
izenship
The farmers of this nation b.va
pui'" i-t71&U CHURCHES at 4 cosr Of
sI5OOOe,OOO, and the annual oontrihu-
ZION or the nation toward all church
institutions approximates 5000 600 ono
per annum The farmers OF tho I'M.
TED States bHiid p churches per dav
Ihere are % 100000 rural church com
hunlcants on the farm, and "a per
cent or the yotal membership of a.
churches reside in the country
Inc farm Is ihe power-house of al,
progress anc the birthplace of all thar
Is noble TIE Garden of Eden waa
10 the countr, nd the man who won,a
'se ctcsa 20 ucd must first get close
nature
the Nunc,.ons 81 2 Rura, Church.
Il" ire fnia' churches ;oday are 90
IL: % raiidnI seq .lc., which This aoa
uenahds, there MLsl De co-oDeratlon
between the reli >.ious, social and eco
homlc life OF the community.
Inc church to attain it's fullest meas.
ure OF success must enrich the liv>s (
Oh the people in the community il
serves; 1t must build character: deve,.
op thought and increase the efficiency
VI human life. t must serve the an |
ciai, business anG intellectual, as we'll
as tne spiritual and moral side of life
II religion does not make a man mora
capable, more useful and more inst
"nat good is it? We want a practical
tehsion' one We can live by and farm
oy, as we'll as die oy.
Fewer and Better Churches.
Dressed is that rural community
Whlcn has but one place of worship
" ;. me competition is the life of trade.
I is death to- the rural church and
nora starvation to the community
Guy sectarlanism is a scourge that
oilgnts the life, and the church preiu.
ice saps the Vitality, of many com.
nunitles. An over-churched commun.
ty Is a crime against religion . ser,.
JUS handicap to society and a useless
Ak upon agriculture
While denomina tons are esson+io,
mo church pride commendable tho
ign teaching of universe al Christian;tv
must prevail if the rural church is tn
ulhil its mission to Agriculture
we frequently have three or fonr
nurcnes IN community which is not
Die TO adequately support one. Small
congregations attend services once
MONTH an' - sa;' - perform there.
lglous functions OF the communi+v
ne division of religious forces anal
ne breaking into fragments of moral
Horts Is Outlines little less than
aiamlty and defeats the very purnose
1ey seek to promote. :.
The evils OF too many churches o
g mlnlmlzed by cooperation The
??clai and economic life of 2 rnraII
Immunity are respective Units and
dnnot De successfully divided bv de-
lines, and the churches
IN only occupy. this important fe1d
cooperation and co-ordination
The efficient country church. will
serve it's community by lead.
g In all worthy efforts al COMMUNITY
llldlng, in uniting the people in ii,
cooperative endeavors for the pan
al welfare OF the community and N
..ousing a real love for country ,ife
I'd loyalty to the county. "a home and !.
fese results can only be successfuIlv
soompiished by the united effort Of
e press. the school: the Church ana
gained farmers e s: -. :, -. 4