Williams news., 1915-02-04
THE CHURCH AS
 AS0C|AlL ! CENTER
A Broader Sphere for ReIigion-New
 Field for the Rural Church.
By Peter Radford
.erS' Union

The. social duty of the rural church is as much a part of its obligations as it's spiritual side. In expressing it's social interest, the modern rural church does not hesitate to claim that 1t is expressing 8 true religious in- stinct and the old-time idea that the while the spiritual nature was over- fed with solid theological food. is fast | giving way to a broader interpreta- | ton of the functions of true religion. We take our place in the succession of those who have sought to make the world a fit habitation for the children of man when we seek to study and understand the social duty of the rural church. The true christian re- Hgion is essentially social-its tenets of faith being love and brotherhood and fellowship. While following after righteousness, the church must chal- lenge and seek to reform that social order in which moral life is ex- pressed. While cherishing ideals of service, the rural church which St- tains the fullest measure of success is that which enriches as many lives as it can touch, and in no way can the church come in as close contact with it's members as through the avenue of social functions.
 The country town and the rural community need social center. The church need offer no apology for It's ambition to fill this need in the com munity, if an understanding of It's mission brings this purpose into clear consciousness The structure of a rural community is exceedingly com. plex; 1t contains many social groups, each of which has it's own center, but there are many localities which have but one church and although such a church cannot command the inter est of all the people, 1t is relieved from the embarrassment of religiously divided communities. Social Needs Imperative.
 | The average country boy and girl have very little opportunity for real enjoyment, and have, as 8 rule, a vague conception of the meaning of | pleasure and recreation. It is ito i'll this void in the lives of country youth that the rural church has risen tG the necessity of providing entertain, ment, as well as instruction, to it's
 membership among the young. The children and young people of the | church should meet when religion is not even mentioned. It has beer
 found safest for them to meet ire
 quently under the direction and care
 of the church To send them into the
 world with no social training exposes
 them to grave perils and to try te
 keep them out of the world with nc
 social privileges is sheer folly. There
 is a social nature to both old and
 young, but the social requirements ol
 the young are imperative. The churct
 must provide directly or indirectly
 some modern equivalent for the husk
 ing bee, the quilting bee and the sing
 ing schools of the old days. In ont
 way or another the social instincts
 of our young people must have oppor
 tunity for expression. which ma!
 take the form of clubs, parties, pic nics or other forms of amusement
 One thing is certain, and that is tha
 the church cannot take away th'
 dance, the card party and the theatr
 unless 1t can offer in it's place sal
 isfying substitute in the form of nor
 pleasing recreation.
 Universal Instinct for Play.
 In providing for enjoyment tn
 church uses one of the greatest metf
 ods by which human society has d. veloped. Association is never secur until it is pleasurable; in play the iI stinctive aversion of one person 10 { another is overcome and the socis mood is fostered. Play is the chic educational agency in rural commul ities and in the play-day of huma |. childhood social sympathy and socif habits are evolved. AS individual
 come together in social gathering
 their viewpoint is broadened. the
 ideals are lifted and finally they col , stitute cultured and refined societ It is plain, therefore, that tt I church which aims at perfected 8 l ciety must use in a refined and e d alted way the essential factors social evolution and must avail itse @ of the universal instinct for pla t If the church surrounds itself wit t social functions which appeal to tf }. young among its membership, 1t wi d fill a large part of the lamentab Il gap in rural pleasures and will res j. the richest reward by promoting @ higher and better type of manhot d and womanhood.
 n >o~~.~~~~~..~~eN~~ ~~~~-s"-"so"'e~"S~