The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-03-04
RURAL SURVEY Of
VITAL IMPORTANCE
Religious Statistics Are Secured
From County To BE Used BY
Local Churches
hearty COOPERATION ASKED
Information To De Gathered In ever,
Par; OF The County According To
Communities VIII Hsve Isree
Significance

The rural survey department of ths
inierchurch World Movement ha,
been ORGANIZED TO assemble informa
ton and analyze conditions from A
religious standpoint In every county In
the state. according 60 Arthur a
Stockhridge. Rurai Survey Supervisor
for the state ~ Kentucky. with head
quarters at iO2 Todd Building. Louis
vile. Ky
In order for the churches Of a com
munity To carry on their work a,
evangeliEing the territory in which
they are situated and 10 contribute
their share towards the complcts
evange'ixation - the world. which Is
the ideal in every Christian heart. /,
u necessary That the actual condi
tons which exist in each count, DO
discovered Because Of the vital I'm
poriance % this work. the movement
Il calling upon the pastors 81 all de-
nominations and others who are in
formed relative TO religious condition.
TO render all the assistance possible
towards the completion % N. work
7 This Information. after being tabu
lated BY experts II taken back TO IA.
counties. where the several Protestant
denominations with churches in the
county comparatively study II and de
eide on the county's church needs
Recommendation are made bv IN.
county churches 81 each dennmina
ton that 50 desires. 90 the denomi
national home mission. Sunday school
and other boards 50 that these boards
can cooperate intelligently and erec,
lively with the local county church
I organizations
] The lnterchurch World Movement,
IL attempting 10 do its work ON a
democratic basis. II f. neither dlctat
ing nor attempting 20 dictate 10 any
church or denomination what shall b.
done The denominations IN each
county must decide unanimously
among themselves on any Joint coun
~ program for church betterm.nt be-
fore II Il adopted or undertaken with
the cooperation OF the Inierchurch
World Movement The survey depart
ment Is designed To help build up and
meet the needs OF the local church.,
through the local and county denomi
national interests.
An lntsrchurch World Noy.men,
survey Of county deS elops facts as &c
the county's geographical location and
the general character Of its agricul
tural. commercial and Industrial life
its road system and means OF inter
communication. public school system
and other educational Institutions. wei
fare and benevolent institutions. oths,
organizations and individuals enxag
ed In public service for the entir,
county
Accompanying a general survey OF
county Is a more detailed survey OF
each community. a community beint
regarded as unit OF territory an,
population characterized by common
economic and social experiences ane
interests
The community survey designate,
the outline and location OF the com
munity on information acquired from
storekeepers. bankers and other in
formed persons. Territory not den
nitely Included within the limits O,
any trade community Is considered Ia
connection with the communitles 4,
which IL Is contiguous and To whIci
IL Is most closely related Thus n,
area Il omitted in the enumeration O.
population and other statistical in
formation The survey takes accoun,
% the community's economic condi
tons. such as natural resources. chiel
sources of income. soil. climate ant
market conditions. relations OF farm
ers and business men. Industrial data
etc. The social life and organization,
Of the community are covered In de
tail. together with other Information
TO throw hght on the state OF the 30
oial mind
The third link in the survey chair
IL the survey Of each church In eacl
community This sets out the Ioca
ton. denomination. minister. date of
organization. descriptive data as 4,
buildings and equipment. membership
regular and special meetings and tab
ulated results therefrom. statistics al
TO area covered by the parish. number
Of families reached. parish problems
and other data to give a comprehen
siye vision Of the parish. and supple
msnted by Information as TO the pro
gram q work outlined for the church
by the pastor and the official boards
The triple suryeys-county. com
munity and church assemble all Ia
formation that may be needed 70 aid
the individual churches and denomi
nations In working out their present
problems and future programs OF de
velopment. 50 that wasted effort MAJ
be eliminated and unproductiye &C
tiyities Of each denomination may be
transferred TO productive helds
The need Of such a systematic study
Of church conditions h apparent b.
the results OF Investigation already
made In some sections % the South
10 the churches are TO accomplish the
greatest possible amount of good. The
conditions found to exist In some
quarters are rather startling In one
county In the South. for Instance
there are ~ churches. Of which II
are dead and only 10 OF which main
s.l. guuAas schaaIs