Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1915-02-19

commemorate courage ana Getermlna-
ton. A community composed origi-
nally of individuals from the east, west,
north and south, reared and expert
enced in different environments and
avocations, we have. in an incredibly
short time, learned to work together
for the things which contribute to our
happiness and success. The 'get-to-
gether' spirit is not new here, but
such a manifestation of it as we have
witnessed here this evening, is new.
We should make the most of it in the
future. Why not recognize, therefore,
the parent Of all our cherished tradi-
tons and community assets, and be
able to point with pride in the future
to our mems get-together banquets,
just as we have in the past to cur
clean streets and sidewalks, our town
hail. our village marshall. our pastor
band leader and, las. but not least,
our Farmer Bill?
LAS suggested in our letter of invi-
yation, The important factors upon
which every community is built are,
Industrial, Commercial, Intellectual
and Religious The extent to which
each Of these factors has exerted an
Influence determines the degree CT
prosperity and happiness which the
.o N, ro,tri+-- ON io,-s
Industrial and commercial affairs
are made matter of business by most
Of us-a means OF procuring the where
with to feed and cloth ourselves and
OF acquiring such comforts and luxu-
ries as our tastes demand. Since these
two factors are essentially more a mat
ter of individual than of community
concern they need not be considered
further in this discussion.
1--WE have a public school system
which represents the intellectual fac
/ tor, grammar schools. high schools,
normal schools. colleges and univer-
stiles, most magnificent monument
to the civilization Of the American
people We tax ourselves in order that
our children may enjoy the best there
is in the way Of educational advan-
tages Ignorance is almost a crime.
Education has become as much mat
ter of community concern as proper
food is matter of individual exist
ence. We are proud of our institu-
lions CT learning and glad to support
them.
1.-THE richest and most highly edu-
Gated people are not always the most
happy. a community may be pros
porous commercially and industrially
and its people may excel intellectually,
but if it is net strong morally its
prosperity will be short lived. This
brings us then to the religious factor.
I'VE must admit to begin with that
the moral necessities of the community
must be locked after and that it is
the business of the church to do it.
ne CuuICH SldilNS lOi al bAleNS - SNC0
and is responsible for the moral cen
dition of the world today. To doubt
this is just as reasonable as to- doubt
that our public schools are response
BILE for what you and l know. Edu-
cation is not general except under a
free public school system. Civilization
in its highest form is confined to those
countries where Christianity, through
the medium of the church, has been
accepted and it's teachings followed. /
guess we will all admit, whether we
are church men or net, that the church
fills a very i:lpol tant place in the
world: that without Christianity it
would not be a very desirable world to
live in. The fuaction OF the church
is therefore established Whether any
OF us happen to think so OF not is
immateriai fer it will continue to eX-
ercise that function How effectively
it is exercised depends partly upon the
attitude of the people of the commun-
ity and partly upon the readiness with
which the church adapts itself to needs
and conditions in that particular COM
munity. Before we can make further
progress in this discussion it is appar-
ent that we must analyze some of
the shortcomings on both sides which
appear to be responsible for present
conditions.
In every community there are
church members and there are nom
church members. more CT the latter
than of the former If it is to do its
work we'll the church should reach di-
rectly everyone in the community. If
it does not there IS something wrong
either with the church or with the
people in the community. AS a matter
of fact this is exactly the condition
we are facing today.
1T is easy for those outside to criti-