The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-11-28
TO PROMOTE REVIVAL,
OF COUNTRY CHURCH
Ono Out Of Every Nine Has Been Abandoned in Recent Years
ouethird Only Are Growing, While Twothirds Are De-
clared to Be Dying Have Ceased to Grow.

ESPECIAL to The Richmond Vir91n1an.)
Columbus, o.. Nov. Alone out
OF every nine country churches have
been abandoned in recent years. Only
ship and two-thirds have either ceased
growing or are dying. Eighty-three
per cent have less than 100 members;
twenty-one Per cent have less tnan
twenty-five: twenty-seven per cent
have between twenty-five and nifty;
and thirty -four per cent have between
fifty and 100. Only six per cent have
individual preachers. while twenty
six per cent share ministers with
another church; twenty-three per cent
have one-third the time OF minister:
twenty-seven per cent have one-fourth
time: fourteen per cent have one-fifth
time; Ave per cent have one-sixth
time. A large proportion Of preach
ers receive about the same pay as q
day laborer. Less than forty per cent
of the rural population are church
members.
These facts shown In an extensive
rural survey of Ohio. whose results
were announced today, are applicable
of the Commission on Church AMI
Country Life Plans for scientific sur
veys In all states. including Virginia,
to secure definite data for each
locality, will be formulated at the ma
tional convention Of the Commission
on Church ard Country Life. to be
held In Columbus Ohio, December s.
and 10. with President Wilson and
Clifford Pinchot among the speakers.
Tho Ohio Survey.
The Ohio survey Is considered the
most thorough ever undertaken but
the campaign not only for SURVEYS
but also for speedy reforms to make
churches community centers as well
as houses Of religious worship. is TO
be carried into every part of the coun-
try within the next year.
Here are the causes which the
country church OF the near future
must promote in order to save itself.
according to much-discusscd report
by President Kenyon L. Bntterfeld OF
Massachusetts Agricultural College,
ready for presentation to the commits
sion: Good roads, better farming, en-
Couragement OF agricultural college
extension courses. community beauti-
fcation public health and recreation.
temperance, better schools Saturday
half holiday for agricultural lahorers:
community athletics, observance OF
religious and patriotic holidays and
home coming weeks, community plan
ming and contentment with farm life.
The church must become the social
center for the community, with its
minister leading in variety OF m
terest and religion thereby will be-
come stronger appeal. says the Bot-
terfield report Naturally this pro-
gram is expected eventually 10 aim
UNCONVENTIONAL lines.
To Promote Community Church.
Concrete means Of promoting the
community church movement are dis
closed in another report which the
commission Is expected to adopt as
working plans President Wilson, who
will make an address At the conven-
ton. December 10. 10 reported par
ticularly interested in these plans.
They are summarized thus. First.
rural ministers and church leaders
during the next year will receive pub
Vcatfons issued by the Commission on
Church ana Country Life devoted to
the problems Of rural church fedora
tons and combinations This Will
prepare the way for discussion OF
church cooperation. Then in each
township or natural community.
churches will be urged to form fed
Grafton. with delegates and ministers
from each church forming super
yisory committee to coordinate com
munfty activities. Ultimately this red
e-aticn might employ common MIN
lister ana pay him a salary adequate
10 allow him to undertake wider So
CTS, work In many cases these
churches could merge, DenominA-
TO, nj connection with = certain
s church organization could he main
taicnd tut within the community sec
tartan differences would be largely
ignored.
Ii is big program, but officers
OF the commission believe they can
make great Roadway within the year
The movement will Re directed by Gtf-
ford Pinchot. chairman. ard Rev.
Charles O. Gill. secretary OF the COM
mission.