The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-27
ONE OUT OF EVERY NINE CHURCHES IN
 COUNTRY CLOSED
Problem of Rural Districts is Becoming Acute and
 Remedies Are Sought.

Columbus, O., Nov. 27-One out of every nine country churches has been abandoned in recent years. Only one third are increasing in membership and two thirds have either ceased growing or are dying. Eighty-three per cent has less than 100 members; 21 per cent has less than 25; 27 per cent has between 25 and 50; and 34 per cent has between 50 and 100. Only six per cent have individual preach CTS, while 25 per cent share ministers with another church; 23 per cent have one third of the time of a minister; IA per cent have one fifth of the time; 5 per cent have one sixth of the time; A large proportion of ministers receive about the same pay as a. day 1aborer. Less than 40 per cent of the rural pop uIatfon are church members.
 Here are the causes the country church of the near future must pro- to a much-discussed report by Presi- dent Kenyon L! Butterfield of Massa- chusetts Agricultural College, ready for presentation to the commission: Good roads, beeter farming, encour- agement of agricultural college exten- sion. courses, community beautifica- tion, public health and recreation, tenn perance, better schools, Saturday half holiday for agricultural laborers, community athletics, observance of religious and patriotic holidays and home coming weeks. community plan ming and conteHtnent with farm life.
 The church must become the social center for the community, with it's minister leading in a variety of in terest, and religious will thereby be- come a stronger appeal, says the But terfie1d report. Naturally the program is expected eventually to dim denom- national lines.
 Concrete means of promoting the community church movement are dis closed in, another report which the Commission is expected to adopt as working plans.
 They are summarized thus: First, rural ministers and church leaders during the next year will receive pub lications issued by the Commission on Church and Country life devoted to the problems of the rural church fed .erations and combinations. This will prepare the way for discussion of church co-opefation. Then in each township or natural community, churches will be urged to form a fed- eration, with delegates and ministers from each church forming a fedora tton, with delegates and ministers from each church forming a super5 visory committee to coordinate conn munity activities. Ultimately this fed eration might employ 8 common min- ister and pay him salary adequate to allow his to undertake wider social work. In many cases these churches could merge. Denominationa1 conec- ton withe certain church forming a supervisory committee to co-opeBate community activities. Ultimately this federation might employ a. common minister and pay him salary ade- quate to allow him to undertake wid- CT social work. Ih many cases these churches could merge. Denominations al connection with a certain church organization could be maintained, but within the community sectarian diff ferehces would be largely ignored
 It is a big program, but officers of the commission believe they can make great headway within the year. The movement will be directed by. Clifford Pinchot, chairman. and Rev. Charles o. Gill, secretary of the Commission.