Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-01-28
THE CHURCH AS
AS0C|ALCENTER
A Broader Sphere for Relioion-New
Field for the Rural Church.
by Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers Union

by Peter Radford
Lecturer National Farmers Union
The social duty of the rural church
Is as much a part OF its obligations
as its spiritual side. In expressing It's
social interest, the modern rural
church does not hesitate 10 claim that
it is expressing q true religious in.
social instincts should be starved
while the spiritual nature vas over.
fed with solid theological food, is fast
giving way to a broader inrerpreta'
ton of the functions OF true religion.
We take our place In the succession
OF those who have sought 10 make the
world a fit habitation for the children
Of man when We seek TO study and
understand the social duty OF the
rural church. The true christian re-
ligion Is essentially social-its tenets
OF faith being love and brotherhood
and fellowship. While following after
righteousness, the church must chal.
lenge and seek 10 reform that social
order in which moral life is ex.
pressed. While cherishing ideals of
service, the rural church which Il
tains the fullest measure Of success
is that which enriches as many lives
as 1t car touch. and in no way can
the church come in as close contact
with its members as through the
avenue OF social functions.
The country town and the rural
community need q social center. The
church need offer no apology for its
ambition to fill this need in the com.
munity. if an understanding Of its
mission brings this purpose into clear
consciousness. The structure OF a
rural community is exceedingly com.
pick; II contains many social groups,
each Of which has its own center, but
there are many localities which have
but one church and although such
a church cannot command the inter.
est Of all the people, II is relieved
from the embarrassment Of religiously
divided communities.
Social Needs Imperative.
The average country boy and girl
have very little opportunity for real
enjoyment, and have. as a rale, a
vague conception OF the meaning OF
pleasure and recreation. Ii is TO fill
this void In the lives of country youth
that the rural church has risen 10
the necessity Of providing entertain.
ment. as we'll as instruction. to its
membership among the young. The
children and young people OF the
church should meet when religion is
not even mentioned. 1t has been
found safest for them to meet fire..
quently under the direction and care
OF the church. To send them into the
world with no social training exposes
them TO grave perils and to try to
keep them out OF the world with nc
social privileges is sheer folly. There
Is a social nature to both old and
young, but the social requirements OF
the young are imperative. The church
must provide directly or indirectly
some modern equivalent Tor the husk.
ing bee. the quilting bee and the sing.
ing schools Of the old days. In one
way OF another the social instincts
OF our young people must have oppor.
tunity for expression, which may
take the form OF clubs. parties. pic.
mics or other forms OF amusement
One thing is certain, and that is that
the church cannot take away the
dance, the card party and the theatre
unless 1t a offer in its place a sat.
isfying substitute In the form Of more
pleasing recreation.
universal instinct Tor Play.
IN pro'iu'hs ioF emu! iheH' 'ne
churcn uses ohe Oil the treaties hietii-
ods ny winch humAh society mas ue'
Veioped' Associatioh u eve secure