St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-01-02
THE RURAL
80 ", CHURCH
THE FARMERS THE cu91oDlAN9
OF THE NATIONS MORALITY.
coopocatlon Of Church, School and
Press Essential to Community
Building.
BY peter Radford

BY peter Radford
Lecturer National FaSmeSv Union,
II The church, the press and the school
form . triple alliance Of progress that
guides the destiny Of every commun.'
ity. state and nation. Without them
civilization would wither and die and
through them life may attain its great
est blessing. power and knowledge.'
The farmers Of this nation are greatly
indebted to this social triumvirate for
their uplifting influence, and on behalf
Of the American plowmen I want to,
thank those engaged In these high
callings for their able and efficient
service. and I shall offer to the press
series Of articles on cooperation
between these important indueneeei
and the farmers in tho hope Of I'M
creastng the efficiency Of all by mu-'
tual understanding and organised ct.
fort. We win take up, first, the rural;
church.
The Farmers Are orsat Church Build
The American farmer IL the greatestl
church builder the world has ever,
known. He IL the custodian Of the
nations morality: upon his shouldersi
rests the lark OF the covenant" and
ne to moro responsive to religious In
auences than any other class Of cit4
ixenship.
The farmers Of this nation have
built 10000 churches At . cost Of
$75o.000.0 600. and the annual contribu.i
ton OF the nation toward all church
institutions approximates :D300, o00. 600
per annum. The farmers .,f tho Uni-l
ted States build 20 churche Per day.
There are 100000 rural 81 ,urch conn
muntcants on the farm, Gad "a per
cent Of the total members hip Of all
churches reside In the count ~.
The farm IL the power-ho use Of all
progress and the birthplace Of all that
Is noble. The Garden Of eden was
In the country and the man vi ho would
get close to God must FIRST get close
to nature.
The Functions Of Rural achurch,
II the rural churches today are go.,,
ing to render q service which this age,
demands. there must be cooperation
between the religious, social and eco.
nomic life Of tho community.
The church to attain its fulles,: meas,
ure OF success must enrich the, lives,
OF the people in the corxmun ity It
serves; it must build character: slevel-ia
op though and increase tire eflca ENJOY!
o human life. It must serve the, So:
cial. bust ness and intellectv Il, % we'll
q the Spiritual ana moral side Of life.
II religion does not make q man more.
capable. more useful anil more tust,!
what g'ood IL 1T We va ut . practical,
fension. one we can uu. by and faI1u:
~. % we'll % die BY.
Fewer and Better Churches.
Blessed ID that ru raj community
Mnich has but one pl ACC Of worship.
wa1le co'mpetitt on II he life Of trade,
Il - c4eath to the n lral church and
@o Il starvatit N TO the community.
r. ,tty sectarian ism ! o = scourge that
olights the life. and the church preju.
dice saps the yitaW y, Of many COM
munities. An overt :hurched commun-
ity IL a crime again ct religion, seri-.
Gus handicap to sos dety and useless
tax upon apicultu q.
While den.ominU lions are essential
and church pride commendable. the.
high teaching Of un iversal Christianity
must prevail Il tbs rural church II to
fuldll its mission i agriculture.
We frequently } ave three or four.
churches In com1 aunity which II not
able to adequately support one. Small
congregations atta nd services once =
month and all fun to perform the re.
hgious functions Of tho community.
The division Of religious forces and
tho breaking init , fragments Of moral
efforts 10 ofttim. - little less than .
calamity and deft ,ats the very purpose
they seek to prom vote.
The evils Of to< many churches can
DO minimi1ed by cooperation. The
social and econo: mic life Of Z rural
community are r Depective units and
cannot be success fully divided BY do
nominational Inef ! and the churches
can only occupy his important field
BY cooperation ar u coordination.
The efncient & suntry church will
definitely serve its community by lead
Ing in Ill worthy hlofts at community
building. in unitin Z the people in all
cooperative ende ayors for the gen.
eral welfare Of tn 3 community and in
aroustng real X we for country life
and loyalty to thu country home and
these results can only be successfully
acco' nplished BY tie united effort Of
the press. the sch col, the church and
orgs mixed farmers
Subsc rho FOR
THE SIT. TAM. Many FARMER
e1.oo = yeaR.