The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1915-02-12
The RURAL
CHURCH
THE FAF"ERs TIE cUsTooIANs
OF THE NATIONS MORALITY.
Cooperation Of Lnureh, School ane
Press Esssntia, 70 Community
Building.
by Peter Radford

l."riur'i N.,,"iU. trtncrs' Union.
IN, Chutcn the press aud the school
form a trlplc nilituce vi progress that
guldts III, u,aiH, 90 every CUmmun.
ity stare aud uaIun. Without them
civilization WOuiu NIther and die and
through them lie may attain It's great
eSI blessing power and knowledge
The FARMERS uf thu yujiu' re greatly
Indebted to unis IT, al ~rr...uvirate luI
their upliitins influence, and on behalf
; American uiuwmcn / want to
thank those engaged in these high
uUllinE- tot their able and efficient
se"yiC,, aud sh; u oncr TO the press
a series OF articles on cooperation
between th,su important influence
and The farmers IN the hope OF In.
'irLsii = ~, olIci' ncy OF all by mu.
tual Ni"rstandinY and organized er.
'ort We will take up. first, the rural
church
The Farmers Are Great Church Build.
ers.
The American farmer is the greatest
ChmCl ,uildor the world has ever
known lIv Is tn, custodian Of the
nations morality; upon his shoulders
rest. the ark OF the covenant" and
ac b. more rcs punstvu to religious in
tiuences than any other class Of cit
iycnship
Tho farmers Of this nation have
built 10000 churches at a cost OF
E1t0OuO, 600, and the annual contribu.
ton 81 the nation toward all church
institutions approXimates $500, 900, 900
per anuum The farmers OF the Unit
ted Stgrc- build 30 churches per day,
There art 10000. OOU rural church com.
muuicants on the farm and % per
zen NJ the total membership OF all
churches reside in The country.
The farm ~ the power-house OF all
progress aud the birthplace Of all that
is noble The Garden Of Eden was
in the country and he man who would
get close 10 God must first get close
to nature
The Functions OF a Rural Church.
II the rural churches today are GO
ing TO render a service which this age
demands. there must be cooperation
Between the religious, social and eco
nomiC NE OF the community.
lhe church To attain its fullest meas
ure OF success must enrich the lives
Of the people in the community II
serves; II must build character; devel.
op thought and increase the efficiency
OF human life. II must serve the so
cial. business and intellectual, al we'll
as the spiritual and moral side OF life.
II religion does not make o nan more
capable. mois useful and more just,
what good is IL? We want a practical
religion. one we can live by and farm
BY AZ well Is die by,
Fewer and Better Churches.
Blessed IS that rural community
which has but one place Of worship.
While competition II the life OF trade
Il Is death to the rural church and
moral starvation TO the community
Petty sectarianism Ii a scOurge thai
blights the life, aud the church preiu
dice saps the vitality OF many com
munities. An over churched commun
ny h. a crime against religion, o seri
Gus handici y TO society and a useless
tax upon agriculture.
While denominations are %essentia.
and church pride cummendable. TN,
high teaching Of universal Christianity
must plryail Il the vUral church Is e
fulfill H. mission 10 agriculture.
We frequently have three Or ;oul