Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-11-06

tOn In the open
country is well-nigh impossible.
Moreover If the landowners them
selves are restless and on the move,
selling out before fairly getting rooted
in one locality, it will be found diff
cult to maintain q farmers church. The
conditions that lead to contented
and prosperous family life in one
locality are especially favorable as an
economic and social foundation for
this type Of farmers church.
Better Agriculture Helps Church.
If purely agricultural policies and
activities are sufficiently developed by
local secular agencies, the country
church will be relieved from RESPONSE
bility for promoting directly any mea-
sures looking toward local agricultural
development; however, In some instan-
ceS the country church and it's leaders
may as an act of self-preservation be
compelled temporarily to promote agri-
cultural ideals in the community as
an economic basis for a prosperous
church. In like manner the country
church will interest itself in educa-
tional ideals as a protective and de-
fensive measure, if the general educa-
tiOnal creed of the parish is at low
tide.
Church a Help to Better Farming.
Stability of the family group upon
the farm in a single neighborhOod
decade after decade is condition ia
vOrable to the development of a strong
agricultural system. Here is where the
country church, especially when at its
best, renders an ineStimable service to
agriculture. Built upon the family as
an institution, the church ties family
ito family and creates a strong bond of
locality which tends to hold the family
tree when once rooted in the soil.
All the precepts of morality constant
lily inculcated by the church, moreover
strengthen the habits of life and
thought upon which the unremitting
ttOil Of farm labor depends for success
Private morality, taught and preached
lin the country church, is an undoubted
force making for physical health and
stamina. The progress of agriculture
us bOtfnd up with an uncontaminated
human stock which so far as authority
igoes finds its most signal champion
lin the church. In district without a
Thriving church, lower land values
record the fear that there is some dan.
lger to family life and human stamina
tfrom loose code of private morality
lChurch Plays Important Part In
Farmers Life.
The problems relating to land and
lcountry life-problems of soil main.
Itenance, farm management, land ten,
lure, wage labor-are at bottom moral
in their nature. These problems gain
u wider and stronger appeal by re-
statement and discussion from the
lpoint Of view of religion and the
Ichurch. The country church by it's in.
ISistence upon justice and goodwill In
all the relations Of farmers with their
neighbors, produces peaceably a situa.
ton in which family life develops
fair measure of content.
Hope, optimism, the silver lining to
every cloud, form an aspect of church
doctrine which no other agency has
so consistently presented. In the midst
OF hard, grinding occupation, filled
with tyrannic necessities, the gracious
interpretations of life through the ru
raj church bring constant spiritual re.
cooperation for the community from
Cts Ills, menaces, disasters and defeats
This realization of safety in the tur
moil Of work and disappointment is
an achievement of community value.