The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1920-11-26
RURAL SURVEY Of :
VITAL IMPORTANCE
Religious Statistics Are Secured
From County To Be Used By
Local Churches
EsEARTv COOPERATION ASKED
&utormation To BE Gathered In Every
Part OF The County According To
Communities VIII Have Large
Significance


Significance
The rural survey department Of the
h~nterchurch World Movement has
been organized 10 assemble informa.
ZION and analyze conditions from a
religious standpoint in every county In
'tne state. according to Thomas r.
Dixon. Rural Survey Supervisor for
Ghe state OF Tennessee, with headouar.
tiers at the University of Tennessee.
Division OF Extension Knoxville, Tenn
In order for the churches of a com.
fnunity to carry on their work of
sevangelizing the territory in which
they are situated and to contribute
shetr share towards the complete
evangeiization Of the world, which Is
The Ideal in every Christian heart. II
vs. necessary that the actual condi
lions which exist In each county be
discovered. Because OF the vital i'm.
Dortance OF this work. the movement
10 calling upon the pastors of all de.
nominations and others who are In
Formed relative to religious conditions
20 render all the assistance possible
towards the completion of the work.
This information, after being tabu.
Mated by experts, is taken back to the
counties. where the several Protestant
denominations with churches In the
county comparatively study 1t and de.
eide on the county's church needs.
Recommendations are made by the
county churches OF. each denomina.
don that so desires, to the denomi.
national home mission, Sunday school
snd other boards so that these boards
can cooperate intelligently and effec.
lively with the local county church
organizations.
The I~nterchurch World Movement
is attempting to do its work on a
democratic basis. It is neither dictat.
ing nor attempting to dictate to anv
church or denomination what shall he
done. The denominations in each
G county must decide unanimously
among themselves on any Joint coun.
~ program for church betterment he
: fore 1t Is adopted or undertaken with
The cooperation OF the I~nterchurch
World Movement. The survey depart.
'snent Is designed to help build up and
meet the needs OF the local churches
through the local and county denomi
national interests.
An fnterchurch World Movement
survey Of q county develops facts as to
Ehe county's geographical location and
the general character OF It's agricul
turaL commercial and Industrial life.
slts road system and means Of inter.
" communication, public school syaterh
and other educational institutions. wal.
fare and benevolent institutions. other
organizations and individuals engar.
I'd In public service for the entire
county.
Accompanying a general survey q,
ca county Is q more detailed survey Of
each community, q community being
regarded as q unit OF territory and
population characterized by common
economic and social experiences and
interests.
The community survey desirnates
1.-The outline and location of the com.
'snunity on information acquired from
.~storekeepers. bankers and other in.
formed persons. Territory not def.
,fnitey included within the limits OF
any trade community Is considered In
connection with the communities &c
(which 1t is contiguous and to which
it his most closely related. Thus nc
AREA is omitted in the enumeration Of
population and other statistical in.
formation. The survey takes account
OF the community's economic condI.
lions, such as natural resources. chief
sources OF income, soil, climate and
market conditions. relations of farm.
ers and business men. industrial data.
stc. 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. 4
i The third link In the survey chain
10 the survey Of each church In each
community. This sets out the loca.
ton, denomination, minister. date Of
organization. descriptive data as 10
buildings and equipment membership.
regular and special meetings and tab.
mated results therefrom, statistics az
20 area covered by the parish, number
OF families reached, parish problems
and other data TO give a comprehen,
sive 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 church-assemble all in.
formation that may be needed to aid
che individual churches and denomi
nations In working out their present
problems and future programs Of de
yelopment, 30 that wasted effort may
be eliminated and unproductive 40
dvities Of each denomination may be
transferred to productive fields.
The need OF such . systematic study
II church conditions IL apparent By
the results Of Investigation alread,
made in some sections OF the South
n fha ehurrhes ara In aceonnflsh N.