Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-29
.FAvORS COOPERATION
IN COUNTRY CHURCHES
Missouri Minister Tells How Plan
Worked Out to Get Christian
People Together.
DOES NOT ASK FOR UNTO,
Says Business Without Religion Is
Poor Business, and Religion With
out Business is Poor Religion.
Eliminates Waste.

Cooperation in country church work
with excellent results, according to a
story from Kansas City. The man
back OF the idea is Rev. B. G. Reaves
Mexico. Mo. who had long seen the
necessity for some sort OF unity. hav-
ing watched the decay on country
churches in his capacity of an cvange-
list. In Rush Hill he found the typical
condition - four Protestant bodies
three OF whom had inadequate build
ing and mcasre salaries for pastors
VINO gave part OF their time to the
pastoral duties There were times
when church member of that town
falling sick would have to send $50
miles to get his pastor" he says
In June. 1914. Mr.. Reaves put tine
matter before the people in the Rush
Hiil Christian Church in the following
manner: The doors of the church
arc blocked. You have here a weak
church. unattractive tc nonmembers.
unable to pay it's preacher much Of
the time and gradually losing its in
fuence The rival churches OF this
place are In the same fix, and / want
TO say to you that the country church
Is doomed unless some remedy Is found
That remedy. in my opinion, is not in
union. ] viii not ask you to join these
rural churches; their members will not
join YOU; but II YOU will drop your
church name and ask these other de-
nominations to cooperate with you in
a church. and work together for the
good Of the community. and the COM
mon cause Of God. YOU will sue
coed and this community Will thrive
beyond your greatest expectation"
PLAN HAS WORKED
AS result handsome. modern
church building. worth $1,000. since has
been secured-a remodeled structure
for the old Christian Church-dedicatc cd
and started without a cent OF debt
Former members of various dcnomina-
lions sat together at the dedication,
is we'll as persons with no church at
hliation. The motto is: II want TO
know you: / want you to know me,
that we may love one another. and
thus make cooperation possible" The
Idea Of love and brotherhood IT is said.
already has reduced crime and kindred
civic wastes. The formula for enlist
ment. not joining, is. Are you a Chris
tian? Have you been member OF
any church before? Is your wish and
desire to cooperate with this people
toward solving the problem Of the
life OF God in this community?" That
allowed 10 worship in his own way
Last November Mr.. Rcaves was called
TO Princeton TO conduct n gospel meet
Ing He asked for a conference OF the
business men. at which he said: Bust
mess without religion is poor bust
ness. and religion without business is
poor religion. Let me make YOU this
proposition: II you would give the in
crease OF your business during the next
five years, / could, out OF this money
alone, build YOU $500 church and
take my salary. and in those five years
j could double the population of your
town. More than that. by means OF the
cooperative church I could largely
eliminate crime, reduce the number of
dead beats" and do away with many
wasting evils" The business men ac-
cepted the proposition, and are build
ing the $4,000 church.
When asked how far the plan will
go. the founder OF the movement said;
Il do not know, but ] will say that
fifty years ago this plan could not
have gone this far, and In nifty years
from now l believe that it will not he
possible for the church to live in its
divided form. l think the country
church must cooperate or die"