Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-02-27
RURAL SURVEY OF !
VITAL IMPORTANCE
Religious Statistics Are Secured
From County To Be Used By I
Local Churches !,
HEARTY COOPERATION ASKED
Information To Be Gathered In Every
Part Of The County According To
Communities Will Have Large
Significance

|
ton and anayze conditions from
religious standpoint in every county in
the state, according to DR.. James
Buchanan, Rural Survey Supervisor
for the state of Virginia, with head
quarters at 1880 Mutual Building, Rich
mond, Va. =
In order for the churches Of a COM,
munity to carry on their work Of
evangel.zing the territory in which
they are situated and to contribute
their share towards the complete
evangelization Of the world, which Is
the ideal in every Christian heart, 1t
is necessary that the actual condi-
tons which exist in each county be
discovered. Because of the vital I'M.
portance Of this work, the movement
is calling upon the pastors Of all de-
nominations-and others who are in
formed relative to religious conditions
to render all the assistance possible
towards the completion of the work.
This information, after being tabu-
lated by experts, is taken back to the
counties, where the several Protestant,
denominations with churches in the
county comparatively study it and de-
eide on the county's church needs.
Recommendations are made by the
county churches Of each denomina-
ton that so desires, to the denomi.
national home mission, Sunday school
and other boards so that these boards,
can cooperate intelligently and effec-
lively with the local county church
organ :zaticns.
The Interchurch World Movement
is attempting to do its work on a
democratic basis. 1t is neither dictat-
ing nor attempting to dictate to any
church or denomination what shall be
done. The denominations in each
county must decide unanimously
among themselves on any joint coun.
ty program for church betterment bel
fore it is adopted or undertaken with
the cooperation of the Interchurch
World Movement. The survey depart
ment is designed to help build up and
meet the needs OF the local churches
through the local and county denomi.
national interests.
An Interchurch World Movement
survey Ct county develops facts as to
the ccurty's geographical location and
the genera! character of it's agrfcul-
tural, commercial and industrial life,
its road system and means of inter.
communication, public school system
and other educational institutions, well
fare and benevolent institutions, stfler
organizations and individuals engag.
ed in public service for the entire
county.
Accompanying general survey Of
county is a more detailed survey Of
each community, a community being
regarded as, unit of territory and
population characterized by common
economic and social experiences and
interests.
The community survey designates
the outline and location of the com.
munity on information acquired from
storekeepers, bankers and other in,
formed persons. Territory not def
nitely included within the limits OF
any trade community is considered in
connection with the communities to
which it is contiguous and to which
It is most closely related. Thus no
area is omitted in the enumeration Of
population and other statistical in
formation. The survey takes account
CT the comrlunity's economic condi.
tions, such as natural resources, chief
sources of income, soil, climate and
market conditions, relations Of farm.
ers and business men, industrial data,
etc. The social life and organizations
of the community are covered in de-
tail, together with other information
to throw light on the state of the so.
cial mind.
The third link in the survey chain
is the survey Of each church in each
community. This sets out the loca.
tion, denomination, minister. date of
organization, descriptive data as to
buildings and equipment, membership,
regular and special meetings and tab,
ulated results therefrom, statistics as
10 area covered by the parish, number
CT. families reached, parish problems
and other data to give comprehen.
sive vision Of the parish, and supple
!. mented by Information as to the pro-
gram CT work outlined for the church
] by the past, :, and the official boards.
| The triple surveys-county, com.
! Elunity and church-assemble all in.
formation that may be needed to aid
the individual churches and denomi.
nations in. working out their present
problems and future programs of de.
velopnlent, so that wasted effort may
be eliminated and unproductiye ac-
tivities of each denomination may be
transferred to productive fields.
The need of such a systematic study
CT church conditions is apparent by
the results Of Investigation already
made in some sections of the South,
! if 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 Al churches, of which II
are dead and only 16 of which main.
tain Sunday schools.