The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1918-10-31

10 ueldy IS 10 lose our cnance. A
modern plant is a necessity if we
minister to those young lives as we
should.
2. To take care of the social and
recreational life of the young peo-
pie.
The tides of temptation are tire
mendOus that beat against young life
today. Many young people go wrong
because no other avenue is open to
them. The church can capture this
young life and hold it for service in
the kingdom. But to do so it must
minister to their needs. A modern
church plant will enable US to center
the social life of our young people
around the church and safeguard
them against many evil things.
3. To adequately represent the
Church in the Community.
The church should be known as the
biggest institution in the community.
For it is. 1t is the community insti-
tuition that produces Christian char
acter and that is the biggest product
of any community. So in the mind of
every boy and girl and every man and
woman the church should stand with
the school as the biggest institutions
in the community. But this is not
true when homes and business houses
and banking institutions have chang
ed to modern plants and only the
church remains antiquated and out of
date. The most modern, up-to-the-
minute buildings in any community
should be its churches. They should
be so stately and beautiful that any
person would see that it is one of the
most important institutions in the
community. Only in this way can the
church hope to challenge the life ser
vice of the big Drained men and wo-
men.
a. To rightly minister to the COM
munity life.
The great duties and master pas
sions-love, honor, patriotism, bro
therhood, justice-are kindled at the
affairs of the church of God Churches
are better national defenses than
forts. Close the doors of the churches
and lawlessness would soon reign.
The business of Liberal is made posi-
BILE by the Christian civilization that
is fostered and kept alive by the
church. Business houses would be
piles of ruin and without value with
out this influence. The whole COM
munity life becomes better when
ministered to by modern churches
A new modern building is imperative
if we are to do our full share of SER
vice in the community life of Liberal
Why Build Now?
Perhaps a person would agree with
every reason given above for the need
of new church but would still be-
lleve sincerely that this is not the
time to build it. 1t ought to be post
poned until the war is over and CON
ditions are better. But we beg of you
to think of the following considera-
tons:
|. In comparison to other things
building material is no higher now
than in the past. A bushel of wheat
or maize will buy as much lumber to-
day as two years ago. And the prices
on all farm products are higher now
than they were or will be at the end
of the war.
There seems to be little chance for
building material to be lower in price
for years to come. There is no fnan
clal saving in waiting and every
chance to lose financial help that is
now available.
z. 1t takes quite length of time
to get such an enterprise in action.
10 begin at once an active campaign
for finances means that in all prob
ability it will be year or more before
any actual building is done. 1t takes
time to gather funds and perfect
plans. The war will in all probability
be over before we are ready to build,
even if we commence to gather funds
now
3. Liberty bonds are now avail
able. Many have bought them in
true patriotism. They can now turn
them to the church and let their mon
ey do second great service to the
nation and the community.
A. The Methodist church at Liberal
has now reached its limit of growth
without better building facilities to
take care of the people. There can
be no great progress without it. And
the church that stagnates soon begins
to go backward If we mark time now
we must soon retreat and lose our
chance forever to minister to the
needs of this community in any large
way. We cannot be slackers to d.
vine calls and expect a greater field
of service tomorrow.
B. The war will soon close and the
boys are coming back home. A per-
iod of world reconstruction will then
be upon us. In this new age the
church must do its part. But if we
delay action looking toward a modern
plant for service until the war is
over, we will not be ready to do our
part. And it will be tragedy indeed
for the church to be unprepared when
God calls for great service.
The committee believes that in !