The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-10-07

causes more work 10 be done. This
must be worked out by efficient
leaders, and without jealousy among
the churches.
One Of the great questions Is
financing a church under the pres
ent system Of voluntary contribu-
lion. II only one good church is in
a community, then you can solve
this problem easily, for there is no
jealousy or hard feelings.
Another difficulty in the country
church is the boss system" OF
church management. This system
is known TO exist in city churches
as well as in the rural churches.
Some strong personality may domin-
ate because of wealth or social po-
sition, and this makes il very hard
because one or two men run the
church. This is found in many
churches, no matter how ambitious
the minister may be.
In some communities there Is an
other difficulty, that OF the frater-
nal orders, and the different organ
izations which meet most every
night and take the place and time
OF the church meetings. These or
CARNATIONS not only compete with
the church but take the time and
money that would otherwise be put
into the church, and sometime pro-
duce the impression that they are
as much good and service to the
community as the rural church.
Another difficulty is the lack TO
promote the religious duties Of the
church, for instance where church
suppers are given, and church sales
OF different kinds are held, and
good sums OF money received, this
being the only thing sought, and
not for the service and uplift Of
the community. These church sup
pers and sales are OF great impOr-
lance il carried out in the right
way and for the good Of the COM
munity and not for the good Of the
church alone. They must be will
ing and ready TO cooperate and
join together all the rural people
as one and strive toward the thing
needed most, and by so doing bring
the church members and the nom
church members into good fellow
ship, so they may be Of service to
their neghbors throughout the COM
munity.
The next problem, - and by far
the most important one, is that OF
the rural minister. He is the i'm
portant man. The man that the
people look to and follow. The
world today is begging for leaders,
and without leaders success is turn
ed TO failure. Through the efficient
leadership Of the country minister.
the church will move on along the
lines Of progress. The great diff
Guilty is getting efficient men to go
into the country and devote their
time and lives to the service and
needs Of the rural people. Today
the average minister in the country
will have from one TO four churches,
and can only meet these churches
once a month and hold a meeting.
Thus the people scarcely get
acquainted with him. He is paid by
the few best farmers who think
they can only afford to give him a
small mite of their earnings from
the farm. Those who cannot give him
money, may at his regular ap-
pointment give him bushel OF po-
tatoes, a bushel Of corn, some meat,
or bag Of meal for his family. As
a matter Of fact, he deserves but
little, for he has not the qualiflca-
tions for rural leader, and about
all he can do is to preach the Cos
pei as the farmer terms it. know
OF one minister who preached al
four churches, meeting them once
month for one year, and received
for his services a horse and buggy.
costing $3.50. But no matter where
we go the average salary paid 10
the rural minister is shamefully
low and disgraceful. II is often
not sufficient TO maintain a respect
able standard Of physical living, to
say nothing of books, travel, and
college education for his boys and
girls. In an era when the average
family expenditure is constantly in
creasing, the salaries of the rural
ministers have remained stationary
The church as a whole has no right
to ask its leader to serve under such
conditions, but they go on and on
and reach no goal that is worth
gaining.
Today there is a call, = the coun-
try side is calling. In the future
more efficient men will leave the
city and the institutions of learn
ing, and respond To this call. By