The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-29
BACKYARD OR BAKERY.
The Peril ofthe Country Church.

The Peril OF the Country Church.
Everywhere we find fourlshing
churches. Numerous organizations are
succeeding, but we must not form our
opinion by single examples. The truth
remains that only one out of every three
churches is growing. The others are
slowing dying
Dr. Edwin L. carp of Drew Theologi-
cal Seminary in speaking of the INSULT
cheney Of the church services in back
ward country districts says: THE mes
sage of the minister in the;.neglected
pulpit of the dlapidated church build
ing is about as effective in creating a
community spirit as the noise of lone
wood-pecker on a dead tree in
swamp"
DR., carp believes in facing facts. So
should we who compose the rank and
file of church membership. To continue
his remarks: "The greatest iperil the
church of the present has to.face in the
community Is not the hostility of the
people, but their Indifference; the peril
of unattractiveness to ithose who need
her fellowship-the peril of. being let
alone by the multitude"
Instead of letting the church alone,
the people should rally around it as
centre. People who claim to live ac-
cording to its high ethical standards
should recognize it as the front from
which has flown all that makes for hope
and happiness. All that is good of their
lodges and fraternities, their clubs and
their societies, was born of the church
which they are now deserving. 1t has
done much, but there is much yet to be
done. 1t should not now be left anemic
and dying.
However, in defense of the people let
US say here that the church cannot be
held blameless. In many communities
the church represents simply Sunday
Service-a chance for the selfish to at
tain-dare we say tia Fire Insurance
Policy. Consequently the non-church
people take the view that if soul saliva
ton is all that it represents they can
get along without it.
Brickyard or Bakery. Is the desertion
Of the church due to the growing feel
ing that it is brickyard whose silent
walls care not for the everyday cares,
the bread and butter side Of life. Does
it matter to the church if ignorance
abounds, if avoidable poverty and drudg-
cry are prevalent. Should the church
cease its dreaming Of the Other World
for part of the time and work more
vigorously in bringing a little Heaven
to this World,
Does it matter to the church whether
the farmer makes a decent living
Should the janitor close the church doors
on Sunday night and its function be
considered as fulfilled for another two
week period, tho the boys and girls
seek doubtful pleasures elsewhere or
leave for town, where the play instinct
is recognized.
The 'Brckyard' church is dying. 1t
may well be dispensed with, but the
Bakery" type will live. 1t will seize
every opportunity to serve its com
munity and the community will repay it
many fold. The decline of the country
church will be checked, but it will be by
ministers who preach the gospel and
then help their congregations to apply
it to community life.
The Country Life School and Confer
ence for Maryland Ministers will deal
with this and other opportunities of the
country church, in its sessions July oath
to August 4th. Anyone interested may
obtain complete information by writing
to the Secretary of the Country Life
Conference, College Park. Md.