The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1915-12-08
MAKE RURAL CHURCH
the SOCIAL Center
rms ~ oisJEsT or 4 dVNfER-
F<CE REsNG HEID At
tOItMBus.
t,clie.ssi that the Movement Will
Hiring Hack Ia Country Church
some u it, Lest
Power.

COLI MBi =, ". ice y
make the rural church In America
not only the religious. but the so
csal. commercial and agricultural
center for the farmer and his wife
and children. is the object of a
conference here today between
Clifford Pihchot. agricultural educa-
tors. churchmen, farmers and 9TH
crs meeting with the Federal Coun-
eli OF Churches and the National
Commission on Church aud Rural
life. President Wilson is expected
10 address the convention Dec. 10.
the last day. discussing his ideas OF
rural credits. one of the big anes-
lions with which congress Is eN-
pected to deal this year
clifford pinchot. who Is chairman
OF the commission, in his address
before the conference today, said IN
part
Il believe We stand today on the
threshold OF great movement
which will bring back To the church
10 the country aud smaller towns
the greater power for good Il used
TO have. do not contend that the
church should take the functions OF
the Grange or the agricultural
school, but believe the failure OF
the country churches. through their
ministers. TO get into productive
touch with the work and needs OF
the country people Is one Of the
fundamental reasons Tor the present
weakness of the country church.
Good farms, good roads, good
schools are necessary 70 the success
OF churches and active churches
should assist powerfully in securing
such material improvements
we are not here 10 advocate the
weakening or strengthening OF any
Que denomination at the expense OF
another, nor have We any theory 10
exploit or any * 90 grind We
merely seek the truth about condi-
tons. together With remedies that
are both wise and practicable e
Ohio has been selected as field
FOR the first intensive rural church
reform campaign. A survey by the
state shows that S00 of the 500
OHIO country churches have been
abandoned, one third are growing.
while two thirds have ceased to
grow or are dying Eighty three
per cent OF them have member
ship Of less than roe each Only
six per cent have individual preach
ers, the others having from one
half TO one sixth OF some minister
time.
The plan is to combine the
strength of these country churches
and establish at the logical points.
community churches which. In adj
dition to being houses OF worship
on sunday. viii be expected TO be
active in promoting good roads,
scientific farming. public health
and sanitation. temperance. public
recreation community beautiiica-
tion, better schools. library organi-
cation and other things of thar sort.
Il is the belief OF the leaders OF
this movement that the average
country minister is underpaid and
often needs wider practical expert
enee and training Among those on
the program today were
Or Washington GLADDEN.. Colnm-
bus. Dr. w r Richardson. Kansas
Guy Prof Edwin L. carp. Madl-
son n. J.: Dr. Alya " TAYLOR. CO.
iumbia, Mo. pr. ) X Mosiman.
Buxton, O.. Or Ward Plat. phila-
delphia. Albert f. Roberts. New
York Miss Jessie Field. New
York; President ". @. Thompson
Ohio State University Columbus
Rev Hubert e. Herring, Boston.
and Rev. r. A. Hutchinson. PITTS.
burg