Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-07-15
THURSDAY, JULY Is, 1915.
Two New Convictions.
Interdependency of Economic
And Religious Elements
In Country Life.

And Religious Elements
In Country Life.
Is the church fulfilling its functions?
Does the Agricultural College live up to
it's possibilities? Can we not develop a
happier country life? Should the minis
tiers be expected to assume leadership in
other than spiritual matters? These and
many other questions will be up for dis
cussion at the Country Life School and
Conference of Ministers to be held at the
Maryland Agricultural College, July 26th
to August 9th.
On their part, the ministry have de-
cided that Christ's full message is a
broader one than that of saving souls.
and that to preach merely the message
of salvation is to emphasize a selfish
motive-that of self preservation. Some
ministers call that type of appeal Fire
Insurance Religion"
But the new conviction is broader. 1t
conceives as duty the bringing of heav-
en- to earth, main tanning that to the ex-
tent that it succeeds, salvation in the
life to come will take care of itself. DR..
G. Walter Fiske, Dean of Oberlin Theo-
logical Seminary says:
1.-THE country church has become de-
cadent where it has ceased to stir its
community; and it may find its largest
aim in the broadcast kind of sacrificial
service. To do this, the church must
furnish the opportunity for the public to
worship in simplicity. sincerity, impress
iveness and truth. 1t must perform the
priestly function of meditating between
God and man, until in the Holy place
men feel the hush and peace and power
of Gods presence and go away refreshed
and inspired for life's duties. Unless
man is pure spirit, the work of the
church is more than saving souls A re-
ligion which aims merely to save man S
soul and otherwise neglects him is super
fetal and fails to appeal to whole man s
manhood"
This new conviction insists that the
country minister for instance, should do
more than preach-He should be lead
er and inspirer of development towards
making more ideal the living conditions
of his people. Rev. Denies, of Pennsyl-
vania says, "There is nothing secular
but sin-everything man thinks, con-
ceives or does is spiritual. All is part
of Gods work and all should be consid-
cred sacred. Christ should be made Man
ager in Chief of the lives of men,"
This certainly means that duty of the
minister, though it will ever include the
preaching of the gospel according to the
old conception, will yet emphasize more
than ever, the bringing of Heaven to
earth, the healing of the halt, the lame,
and the blind. This means that in coun-
try districts where social life is sluggish
and stagnant, or where slipshod and ig-
norant farming exists, the ministers
should be prepared to point out the
way"
And right here is where the second
"New Conviction" comes in. BY new"
conviction we mean "new" only as far
as general acceptance is concerned.
Those who have been improving farm
ing, developing the Science of Agricul-
ture and in every way lettering the
financial conditions of the countryman.
have come to a realization of the fact
that 1.-THE Economic Aim of the Agri-
culturist is not a Sufficient One" A
community may be rich economically
speaking. and yet mere pauper in the
big things of life. The heart life of the
people must grow with their developing
material prosperity if wholesome and
happy farm life is to result. That is
what the Church furnishes.
On this account the Agricultural Col
leges of several states are cooperating
with the ministers to carry out these
convictions, the minister to prepare him
self for more efficient leadership in his
community by becoming acquainted with
Rural Economics, Rural Sociology and
Scientific Agriculture, and the Agricul-
tural College by giving him his training.
The Country Life Conference for Mary
land Ministers held at College Park last
August was attend by one hundred and
fifty ministers of all denominations and
faiths, from all parts of the State and
District of Columbia. They unanimous
ly voted to repeat the Conference and
add also weeks school to be held pre-
ceding the Conference.
Accordingly, the Country Life School
will be held July 18th to August 3rd, and
the Conference August 4th, 9Th and 9Th.
Bulletins containing complete informa-
ton have been sent to all Maryland and
D. C. ministers. Any one failing to re-
ceive copy may obtain it by writing to
B. H. barrow, Sec'y Y. M. c. A., Col
lege Park, Md.
B. H. barrow,
College Park, Md.