The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-09
CIVIC BODIES AND CHURCHES PLAN TO
 WORK IN UNISON
Churchmen Believe Rural Up lift Necessary to Success
 of Religious Effort.

Columbus. Ohio Dec 9.-Big work for rural churches in the United States was mapped out here today by prom inent agricuIturists and church lead CTS of more than a score Of denomina- lions, attending the national confer ence of the Commission on Church and Country Life which opened yes terday and will conclude tomorrow evening with an address by President Wilson Public meetings of the com mission are being he1d in conjunc- ton with business sessions of the Fed era1 Council of Churches.
 The program adopted today pro- vides that movements sIla1 be insti- Tuted in every state within the next year to make rural churches partict- pate in these activities: Good roads, better farming and extension Of agrf- cuftureal college work, public health and sanitation, temperance and law enforcement, consolidation of schools where possible, social and recreation al centers, community Identification celebration of religious and patriotic holidays and boys and girls agricul- tura1 contests. These activities are to be managed in addisiona1 to regu- lar religious work.
 To accomplish this program, rural churches must cooperate not only with each other but also with such organizations as the Grange, Y. M. G A, r. w. c. A.,and school author1- ties, the conference decided.
 The report on this enlarged function of rural churches was presented by a kconmittee headed by President Ken- Agricultural College, former member of the American rural credits commits sion which toured Europe two years ago Plans were formulated to put this program into effect, with each state as a campaign unit. These will I1a ond 10f
 Bad business methods in most churches was the subject of another report hy committee of which Prof G. Walter FTske of Oberlin. O., was chairman. It contained recommenda- tion fora campaign of educar1or, ir- vo1ving the fnstructing of church treasurers and trustees on standard methods of financing, budget systems, adequate methods of securing contri- 1utions, with definite and regular pay Enents, simple system of parish ac- counts, and periodical auditing.''l Amy churchs spiritual condition and fin ancial status are closely related, the report commented.
 It added. There is no use denying tine fact that thousands of country churches are quite unnecessary, be- cause the community had plenty be- fore these came. Rural business. men have a right to refuse to support these churches and to focus their support on such institutions as are actually efficient in community service.'
 ssThe tenant system of farming is para1yzing the energies of relfgious forces at present." said Rev S. L. Morris of Atlanta, in an address to- day. He is executive secretary of the home missionary society of the Pres byterian church, South.
 Men who do not own their homes and who in all probability will be missing by anothsr 'ear have no great incentive either to build or maintain neighborhood churchess'' Rev. Morris added No wonder it has been said that greater than war, pestilence or famine is the curse ot Iandlordisnn Besides, the spiritual interests of the rural church are usually not benefit ted by the system of absentee pas-