Americus times-recorder., 1919-09-07
THE COUNTRY CHURCH PROBLEM.

What shall be the place of the country church
in the reconstruction of rural life? asks the Kansas
ing asked In the course of the war when many other
problems demanded attention and when it. was the
single task of the farmer to produce sufficient food
stufs for the world, the country church was compara
lively forgotten Now appears that the problem will
be regarded vital to the life of the entire ma
ton than before.
While little has been said about the country church
in recent years. there is reason to beve that con-
dons have changed since the last extensive surveys
made. The conditions then startling enough
In single state there were 1900 vacant country
churches In three counties in another state it was
found that thirty-one churches had been abandoned
that only 80 per cent of the churches were gaining
per stationary and SO per cent were los
ing. survey in another state revealed that 1876
country churches had total membership of only L.
500. In fortysx churches in two counties of GER
tain state there no young men,
Similar conditions found in the rural dis
trcts throughout the United States The falling off
in the country church has in nearly all cases exceed
ed the decline in population caused by the steady
drift to the cities Of the city church has gain
ed at the expense of the country church in this shift
of population and although the churches of the entire
country able to show annually increase in mem
bership, many members lost in transit and many
others become entirely inactive in the city church
whose numerical strength they increase
The plight of the country church has been greatly
deplored by religious leaders for years. for the
rural church has long been the source from which
men of power in various fields of activity came 1t
has been estimated that about 80 er cent of the lead
ership in religious affairs had its origin in the rural
church
Of course the constant flow of the country popu-
lation to the big cities is the chief explanation of
country church conditions which have been further
gravated by the influx of foreign elements with their
Indifference to the rural church and other American
institutions The movable habits of the farms has also
accelerated the decline of the church.
But there are other causes It has been sug-
gsted that the growing prosperity of many farmers
is productive of Indifference to religious affairs
That in some sections there have been too many
country churches is just evident as it is in all
sections that the ministers have been shamefully un-
provided for. The result of this latter condition has
been a remarkable scarcity of able pastors for the
country churches and almost complete absence of resi-
dent ministers of any character. The average sal
airy of ministers outside of $50 large cities of the
United States is less than 5000 a year.
Yet the country minister has been admonished
constantly to stand by his task and duty often by
those who themselves once rural pastors who
left the country church for arger field of service
Obviously little assistance be expected from this
unless conditions change
The change may come if by some means, prob
ably by federation the country churches can make
adequate provision for an able resident pastorate
This plan has been tried in some sections and from
all reports it has been successful But it cannot be
depended upon in all cases, for rural church member
ship is as rule conservative in denonnatonal mat
ters and finds many objections to federation
1t is believed further that the city church which
owes very much to its rural sister, should lend assist
ance in this crisis by taking under its watchfu care
the declining country church. extending funds exchang
ing pastors frequently and in other ways carrying the
advantages of the city to the country.
1t is also evident that the country church must
extend its activities and become something of a com
munty center. Unless it does this at once and in a
rather extensive way its very existence is threatened
by the growing popularity of the rural community
Club which furnishes many kinds of entertainment