The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1920-03-11
Religious Statistics Are Secured
From County To Be Used By
Local Churches
HEARTY COOPERATION ASKED
information To Be Gathered In Every
Fart Of The County ACCORDING To
Communities Will Have LARGE
Significance

pu,,, ~ = ~ CuOleTlOn
rural Survey Supervisor for the state
OF Louisiana, with headquarters. at the
Louisiana College, Alexandria, La.
IN order for the churches of a COM
munity to carry on their work -,
evangelizing the territory in which
they are situated and to contribute
their share towards the comn,ate
CHARACTERIZATION Of the world, which is
the ideal in every Christian heart II
IS necessary that the actual cond,.
lions which exist in each county bo
discovered. Because of the vital i'm.
portance Of this work, the movement
IS calling upon the pastors Of all do.
nominations and others who are in.
formed relative to religious conditions
10 render all the assistance possih,a
towards the completion of the work
rms 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-.
clde on the countys church needs
recommendations are made by tho
county churches Of each denomina.
ton that so desires, to the denomi.
national home mission, Sunday school
ana other boards so that these boards
can cooperate intelligentiy and effec.
lively with the local county church
organizations.
Inc lnterchurch World Movement
IS attempting to do it's work On
democratic basis. 1t is neither dictat.
ing nor attempting to dictate to any
church or denomination what shall he
done. The denominations in each
county must decide unanimously
among themselves on any Joint coun.
ty program for church betterment no.
fore it Is adopted or undertaken with
the cooperation of the Interchurch
World Movement. The survey depart.
ment is designed to help build I'D and
meet the needs of the local churches
through the local and county denomi.
national interests
An 1nterchurch World Movement
survey OF county develops facts as to
the county's geographical location and
the general character of its apricnl.
tural, commercial and industrial life.
its road system and means Of inter.
communication, public school system
and other educational institutions vel.
fare and benevolent institutions, other
organizations and individuals enpap.
ed in public service for the entire
county.
Accompanying a general survey Of
a county is a more detailed survey NJ
each community, a community being
regarded as a 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 1t Is contiguous and to which
1t is most closely related. Thus no
area Is omitted in the enumeration Of
population and other statistical in.
formation. The survey takes account
OF the community's economic condi.
tons, 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
t 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. |
ton, denomination, minister, date of
organization, descriptive data as to |
buildings and equipment, membership,
regular and special meetings and tab.
ulated results therefrom, statistics as !
to area covered by the parish, number |
OF FAMILIES reached, parish problems
and other data to give comprehen.
slve vision of the parish, and supple.
mented by information as to the pro.
gram Of work outlined for the church |
by the pastor and the official boards. |
The triple surveys-county, com.
munity and charlottesville 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.
velopment, so that wasted effort may !
De eliminated and unproductive &C.
tlvities Of each denomination may be |
transferred to productive fields.
Inc need of such a systematic study
OF church conditions is apparent by
the results of Investigation already |
made IN some sections of the South, |
u the churches are to accomplish the
greatest possible amount Of good. The