The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-12-14
k,JZsES'G
THE COUNTRY. CHURCH
ITS POSSIBILITIES AS TOLD r5Y
ANGEL RATLIFF.

1
home community is the center of ey-
cry neighborhood activity-agricultur
al, social, educational, religious. In or
der to be in things in our neighbor-
hood it is practically necessary to be-
| long to or affiliate with the church.
People naturally like to be mixed up
with what is going on about them:
therefore in my home community, 1t
/ is the fashion, the popular thing, to
ATTEND oar neighborhood church, to go
/ to the Bible school, and be identified
with the doings of these organiza-
/ tit.is.
This was the pith of Ancil E. Rat
! Ills thought expressed before large
Friends church He is a successful
farmer whose postoffice is Paramount,
Indiana The country church to which
| he belongs and which is made the
center of things is known as Little
Ridge Friends Church.
Years ago when most of that coun-
/ try was devoted TO mosquitoes and
fever and ague, it was discovered in
! wading about in the swamp that there
was little ridge" at that point-a
strip OF land higher than the surroundt
ing land. Now that the water is drain
! ed away the swamps have become
$500 an acre farm lands, the little
ridge has the appearance OF quite a
: kili.
! This church believes in advertising.
In addition TO the things that the
people of the community have to say
about inc church. they use large post
crs at the cross roads and other places
/ OF prominence. Automobile tourists
ari others are thus Informed that
there is a rural church at a certain
roint surrounded by fine, big
beach tree forest, and that Sabbath
school and church services are held
at certain hours to which gatherings,
strangers are made welcome.
, Not long ago two ladies from a lis
| tant neighborhood we're on little
, cross.country motoring trip. One said.
"Will it be out of the way to go past
/ the little country church in the beech
grove?'
/ The other replied: I'VE can go that
road as we'll as any"
And that's the little church we
hear so much about" unused the lady
who first inquired, when they had
reached the shady roadside by the
church yard.
This kind of a remark leads the con"
gregation to believe that ut pays to
advertise"
! Originally the church building was
little square affair perhaps 34x36.
The congregation of about 40 repre-
scented the per cent interested in a
neighborhood of about ESQ. Once the
little congregation decided to do
things" get out among the people and
invite them in-really minister to the
surrounding populace-it became nee
essary to make an addition to the
building on one side. Later similar
addition was made on the other side.
Not long after, in order to take
care of two Bible school classes that
during the summer had been meeting
in the groves, an addition was built to
the rear
The little Ridge Friends church
,prospers spiritually because 1t renders
an actual service. Young people like
to remain in this rural community
because they can have more fun
there than any place else. When a
ham fry" or checker fry" is an
i nounced for one of the homes, prac
ltically the entire community will turf
out, the older folks, the younger folks
and the children.
4 A great deal is made of Educational
Day. At this time there are only two
members of the community OF school
age not in the academy. Sixteen OF the
young people of that community are
ATTENDING college this year.
The Farmers Institute and the shor'
courses are held in the church. Exer
cises Of special interest and benei'
! to farm life are frequently arranged
for. speakers being brought In usual
lily from the agricultural college.