The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-10-07
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THE RURAL CHURCH
By Howard h, Harrison

ny hOWdIu n. udAIiSou
What is the purpose OF the Rural
Church? The purpose Of the rural
church is TO maintain and enlarge
both individual and community
ideals, under the inspiration and
guidance of religious influence, to
help rural people in personal and
family life, in industrial, political,
and social development. One OF the
great dangers TO rural progress is
the low level of ideals.
In the city the individuals mingle
one with another, and in the coun-
try the danger comes from the ten
dency OF settling down into the easy
chair of satisfaction. There must
be q stimulant in rural life il pro-
gress is TO go on. Many who might
become ideals leave the country and
go into the cities because they
have no idea of the possibilities of
the country and its development.
How many young men and women
Of the best type have that longing
for the gayety Of the city and leave
their rural homes? This is one
thing today that is keeping the
standard of rural communities
down; and unless the individual
man or woman can see and know
their opportunities and the posi-
bilities of the country, the standard
will remain the same. The prob
lem before us today is to keep these
boys and girls at home on the farm,
and by so doing advance the rural
communities and place them in the
lead. How can we solve this prob
lem? l will say the first thing is
to teach them the possibility Of
growth and enlargement along right
lines as religious duty. In many
of our churches they preach that
we are sinners, which most of us
are, but leave unemphasized the
dignity of the human soul. They
fail to teach the pleasure in work
ing and toiling on the farm; though
the farm work be hard, they must
work with might, receiving plea
sure at all times. They fail TO
teach them a love for rural environ
ment. No successful rural life can
exist, except through the love for
the farm, the love Of farm people,
and all that belongs to the farm.
Clubs, debating teams, and the like,
will tend TO made social environ
ment more pleasant for the younger
generation. The rural church can
do much to advance this, not by
telling them these things are needed
and can be done, but by leading
them to the fountain of apprecia-
ton. or course the first thing to
consider is the industrial success
on the farm. that is, keeping OF
the people on the farm, and the
second is. the love for the farm and
the community, and love for the
farm work. Through the right kind
Of rural churches this can be done:
and unless these rural churches can
do this the problem OF keeping the
best type of men on the farm will
still remain the same.
The main function or business Of
the rural church is to interpret the
Kingdom Of God TO rural people in
terms Of their daily lives and daily
toll, to be OF service TO the whole
community, not merely TO a little
group who form the church. Any
other conception Of the church is
deadening to the entire community.
Sectarianism has played a great
part in the Protestant church life.
and in many communities there are
too many churches, and in some not
enough. For instance where there
are four or five small struggling
churches in one community, and
there is not enough money TO sup
port one church, these should be
united Where so many churches
are competing, religious evils are
flowing from one 10 the other.
Where this is the case the church
is striving toward success, instead
OF service, to the community. While