The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-12-03
Religious
Thankful For psmocracv.

This Thanksgiving we face condi-
lions that are without precedent. We
are face to face with devastation and
suffering brought by war such as this
world never before has seen. We are
witnessing the mighty judgment Of.
God upon the nations Of the earth for
evil Inc wrongdoing in which every ma
ton has had its share. Direct and Inn
mediate responsibility for this out.
break rests more upon some than upon
others, and terrible is the weight of It.
but for the deeper and underlying
causes we are all responsible.
Ihere Is coming out Of this upheav-
al the mightiest impulse toward de-
mocracy the world yet has known. and
we should feel thankful that we al
ready have attained that democracy
which the old world is now striving
for.-Rev DR.. William T. Manning.
Rector Of Trinity Church, New York,
Train Ministers In Rural Work.
The Rev. DR.. Warren H. Wilson of
the Presbyterian church and country
life department in the Presbyterian
building. In New York city, said that
his department is called upon to de-
eide the question, "Shall u country
minister know how to rear live stock.
to improve soils and cure children Of
measles?' He does not think the min
listers ought to go that far.
The country life department. the
largest Of its kind in the United
States, recently announced an enlarge
ment Of its rural work. Already much
has been done this summer in behalf
OF country churches, but It is now de-
term1ned to do more. Announcement
was made of four states for Presby-
terrain effort. These are North Caro-
lima, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas.
From New York city two young Pres
byterian ministers have been sent to
Texas to enter upon this new rural
work and to do so on wholly new
lines and plans.
Ten presbyterles were reported as
having appealed to the PRESBYTERIAN
headquarters to enter at once upon i'm.
provement Of church conditions in their
rural districts. 1t was decided to re-
spond and to take on fifty churches,
nearly all Of them in the four states
named. The new plan is to make
pastors out of preachers and to COM
pei them to remain as rural pastors,
not to look upon such pastorates as
makeshifts till city calls come along.
DIR. Wilson said he thought farmers
ought to be taught to breed hogs and
cattle and the best way to rid a town
Of mosquitoes, and he thought church,
es might we'll be headquarters for such
instruction, but he thought ministers
might perhaps better get other ex-
perts to give the instruction. Educa-
tional, social and all work of that kind
be insists ministers take up.
The new decision arrived at includ.
ed the selection Of picked preachers Of
rural churches and the sending of them
to summer conferences next August,
paying their expenses. At Estes Park,
Colo, about forty are attending, and
the number to be sent in all will be
about 500. All these summer schools
give addresses on conduct of rural
churches-how to make them commune
ty service centers. The Disciples Of
Christ have a seminary In Missouri to
teach their country ministers to do
these things.
Besides presbyterians and Disciples,
bodies that voted to go more largely
into this rural business We're the Meth
odists, Baptists and Episcopals, and it
is estimated that about 100000 will
be expended next summer to improve
churches IN the country districts. To
the question whether there are too
many churches In country towns DIR.
Wilson said that the answer must be
based on particular towns, but he
thought If all rural churches got busy
and really touched the rural problems
there might perhaps be work enough
for all Of them.
Hl-.-- e L-