Norwich bulletin., 1916-01-10
STARTING SURVEY OF
 RURAL CHURCH CONDITIONS.
Small Army of Workers Will Be En-
 listed in Connecticut.

Organized survey of rural church conditions in this state was in pros pect today.
 The omvement probably will be started within 8 few months and com pleted in about year, with the aid of a small army of volunteer workers, including churchmen and agricultur- ists. Present plans call for use of the surveys as a'basfs for a future exten- sive campaign for church and country life improvement in the state. All the work will be er-denominational
 Word of the prospective church survey came today from Headquarters of the Commission on Church and Country Life at Columbus, o.. and names of number of men in this state who have the plans under con- Sideration were made known. The arrangements were discussed at the national church and country life conference held recently in Columbus, where President Wilson was one of the speakers. Delegates from this state held a special conference at that meeting to formulate tentative plans for a rural church survey. to be start cd as soon as possible after their re- turn.
 Among the persons who cse expect ed to be leaders in the movement here are: Frederick Lent, New Haven; B. s. Winchester, New Haven; Rev. R. R. HaiL Hartford; Rev. Edw. M Chapman, Old Lyme; Prof. William P. Ladd, Middletewn.
 Similar surveys are contemplated in most other states. Working plans are to be modelled after those used dur ing the past year in Ohio, where the first statewide scientific inquiry into country church conditions ever made in the united States is now being working under the supervision of the Commission on Church and Country Life. This commission is subsidiar body of the Federal Council of Churches, an iRter-denominational or ganizaticn of heads of churches in the
 Each of the hundreds of volunteer workers who would be employed in such a survey as that contemplated in this state would ascertain facts about country churches within the township or locality assigned to him, such as these, for example: Membership, loca- ton, distance from another church, and nature of members (whether farm owners or tenants). These facts would be reported to a central office and as- sembled there.
 The results shown then would be used as the basis for an educational campaign to make churches extend their functions to include some of these interests. Federation of sev- erai churches in each community, good
 
 with special stress on agricultural col- lege extension work cooperation among farmers for buying, selling and producing, consolidated schools, pub lie recreation and establishment of so- coal and recreational centers at churches. Country preachers are to be urged to educate themselves more thoroughly in the practical interests and needs of a community, without sacrificing purely religious work
 Among the results indicated by the incomplete rural church survey in Ohio are these: Eighty-three per cent. of the churches have Iaxs than 100 members and 21 per cent have less than 25. Only one in Is has an indi- vidual preacher and large proportion of preachers get about the same pay as a day laborer.. Less than 40 per cent. of the rural population are church members. Only one-third are increasing in membership and one church in nine has been abandoned in recent years.
 Headquarters for the national church betterment movement, which has among its promoters practical farm CTS as well as churchmen. are at 51T Commercial Building, Columbus, Ohio, in charge of Charles o. Gill.