Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1916-08-10
Some Of The Aims And
Purposes of the Country Life
Conference For Minister'S.

[By Rev. P. E. Heimer, Phi. d.
The Third Annual Country Life Con.
ference for Maryland Ministers was held
at the Maryland State College of Agri-
culture from August "a, 1916. Similar
} conferences are now being held in most
States of the Union at the various State
Colleges of Agriculture.
The first impetus to these conferences
was given by Elk. President Roosevelt in
the appointment of the Country Life
Commission when he built larger than he
knew.
In this little notice it is not our purpose
to give detailed report of the confer
ence (for that would be too much of an
effort in these torrid vacation days. but
to give few impressions and sta tie some
of the salient factors and aims of the
Conference. 1t is due the Agricultural
College and especially those who had d.
rect charge of the Conference, that it
was success in every way. That the
hospitality shown the ministers was most
cordial, and the program strong, and the
speeches rich in thought and suggestio on,
most of which was not that gotten out of
books but out of ripe experience. 1t was
rich treat to mingle with men of all re-
ligious types and denominations, all of
whom have devoted interest in Gods
Laws as manifested both in the realm of
morals and religion, and in nature and
the soil
And this last statement leads me to
say, in the second place, that the purpose
of these annual conferences is to correl-
ate and coordinate the minister aid the
farmer; the church and the farm; relig
ion and agriculture. Indeed, new de-
parture for the church, and not few
who lived and live in the past stand
.ghast at the idea. Time was when it
vas believed the only business of the
Minister was to preach the (DoctrinaD
gospel, and the church's activities were
:ircumscribed by that prevailing notion.
and now that the minister is to become
religious engineer, planning and direct
Ing matters social, sanitary, economic
md agricultural along with religions, is
A thing so novel as to be deemed by the
ultras as visionary and of doubtful worth.
But the Country and Country Church has
50 far fallen behind in the race, and the
Country Church dying because of inani- |
ton and the attrition of rival sects and
destructive competitive denominations
that it is imperative to find the cause
and apply remedy
This is a mighty movement for good
to the Country and Country Church.
There are fifty-five million people living
in the country with twelve million farm
ers, and call them 'hayseeds,' if you
will, remember that there is no hay with
out their seeds.
Some of the specific aims and objects
of the movement are:
|. The consolidation of churches so as
to have country churches that are as
we'll equipped as the best of city churches
Why not?
g. To create distinctly country par
ish and parson who lives in the open
country and who is supported like man
of his training ard responsibility should
be. Now he receives a salary less than
most unskiled laborers receive, and no
mans brain is at its best on Bn empty
stomach.
g. To make better farmers-that is to
teach him to put science and business
into his work which he does not now; to
make farm life attractive so as to keep
the young lad and lass in the country; to
have better schools and those more
adapted to his work as a farmer, and
many kindred things, for all of which
the country pastor is to furnish inspira-
ton and leadership-a big job-but it is
coming to that. 1t is one of the big
movements of our day, along side of the
big movements of temperance, Woman
Suffrage and World Peace.
This much now in general way, more
specifically at our Annual Harvest Festi
val in September.