New Britain herald., 1915-04-16
CHvJRCHEs AND RURAL SURVEY

CHURCHES AND RURAL SURVEY.
 Professor William B. Bailey. as- sistsnt professor of Christian sociology
 at Yale. delivered an address on the
 rural church problem and what he
 chose to call the rural survey at the
 university yesterday His point evil 1 churches in some communities and if 1 the number was lessened and a sort of community spirit established the result would be more beneficial
 When a man rises to discuss religion
 and churches he is apt to say things
 that a large number of people dis
 like. Prof. Bailey inquires how many churches in Connecticut were started from spite and says he would like to
 know.
 If an effort was made to decrease
 the number of churches with the sug- f gestion that those who attend the smaller ones would be better off by
 uniting with the stronger congrega- tions, 1t would in effect be striking against that freedom of worship
 which we all like to believe is part
 of our rights and privileges in this state. The constitution guarantees to
 every man the right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience and if he in company with
 others, the number does not matter,
 chooses to hold services in accordance
 with that idea then he, is enjoying
 his rights guaranteed by the constitu-
 ton, His form of worship may not
 appeal to those who attend services
 in the larger and more beautiful edi- fees, but who is to say that the little band of worshippers do not receive
 as much religious consolation in their
 humble place as those in the larger and more pretentious buildings.
 'where two or three are gathered to-
 gether in my name" says the Saviour,
 there am%in their midst The
 Salvation Army does not excite the admiration of a large number of otherwise religious people, but it feeds the hungry and helps the oppressed and that is surely good work, to
 which no one can offer objections. It will never do to attempt to un- l dermine the lesson taught in the con- stitution that there should be freedom
 of religious worship. If congrega- tion chooses as a matter of conven- fence or policy to unite with other
 churches that is their affair, but when
 one who has no particular interest in that church but~who rather because
 of an individ ual opinion advises that it be done, then it seems as if he is stepping outside of his sphere and sug gests that they deprive themselves of that freedom of worship to which 1 they are legally entitled and which, l according to general belief, brings them that peculiar peace of mind that
 can be obtained in no other way. The rural survey is a good idea, be- | cause it apparently seeks to ascertain what a community requires ill order ] that it may best serve its people and it's needs. There is no reason to be- ! lieve, however, that evenS fter the in l formation is obtained that with the l difference of opinion among the peo- pie that it will have any practical value except that people will know | just where they stand in relation to
 matters which they did not know be- 1 fore were considered essential for their welfare as an enterprising com | munity. great many men vino, in l the world of letters, are reputed to | be above the average in intelligence
 spend the greater part of their days
 in dealing in theories and explaining
 as the Dublin chambermaid did when
 she told her landlord how to place 1 eleven men in ten bedrooms and give 1 each man 8 room.