The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-07-07
BRICKYARD OR BAKERY.
The Perm OF rhe Country church.

Everywhere we ma u0urlSnluS
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 grow
ing. The others are slowly dying.
Dr. Edwin L. carp of Drew Theol-
ogical Seminary in speaking of the
insufficiency of the church services
in backward country districts says:
"The message of the minister in the
neglected pulpit of the dilapidated
church building is about as effective
in creating community spirit as
the noise of lone wood-pecker on
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 peril the church of the pres,
ent has to face in the community is
not the hostility of the people, but
their Indifference; the peril of un-
attractiveness to those 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 a center. People who
claim to live according to it's high
ethical standards should recognize
it as the fount from which has flown
all that makes for hope and happi-
ness. All that is good of their
lodges and fraternities, their clubs
and their societies, was born of the
church which they are now desert
ing. It 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 can
not be held blameless. In many
communities the church represents
simply Sunday service-a chance
for the selfish to attain-dare we
say it-a "Fire Insurance Policy"
Consequently the non-church people
take the view that if soul salvation
is all that it represents they can get
along without it.
Brickyard or Bakery!-Is the de-
sertion of the church due to the
growing feeling that it is brick
yard 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 drudgery
are prevalent Should the church
cease its dreaming of the Other
World for part of the time and
work more vigorously in bringing
little Heaven to this World!
Does it matter to the church
whether the farmer makes decent
living. Should the janitor close the
church doors on Sunday night and
it's function be considered as fulfilled
for another two week period, tho
the boys and girls seek doubtful
pleasures elsewere or leave for town,
where the play instinct is recogni-
zed.
AO ID lShy0tn SAthiCA 10 0yAh6s
1t may we'll be dispensed with, but
the Bakery" type will live. 1t will
sieze every opportunity to gain its
community 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 Con-
ference for Maryland Ministers will
deal with this and other opportuni-
ties of the country church, in its
sessions July oath to August 4th.
Anyone interested may obtain COM
plete information by writing to the
Secretary of the Country Life Con-
ference, College Park, Md.
s-O