Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-03-02
= ~ : ( 80 ~ Z y.
RURAL SURVEY Of
v.lT!A|!L.!npORTANclE:
Religious Statistics Are Secured
From County To Be Used By
Local Churches
HEARTY COOPERATION ASKED
Information To Be Gathered In Every
Part Of The County According To
Communities win Have Large
y Significance
HEARTY COOPERATION ASKED

ton and analyze conditions from q
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 1890 Mutual Building. Rich.
mond, Va.
In order for the churches of com.
munity to carry on their work of
evangelizing the territory in which
they are situated and to contribute
their share towards the complete
epangelization of the world, which Is
the ideal in every Christian heart, it
is necessary that the actual condi.
lions 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 tahu.
lated by experts. is taken bac.. to the
counties, where the several Protestant
denominations with churches in he
county comparatively study il and de.
eide on the county's church needs
Recomm are made by the
county churches of each denomiaa-
ton that SO desires. to the denoini.
national home mission, Sunday school
and other boards SO that these boards
can cooperate intelligently and effec-
lively With the local county church
organizations.
The Interchurch World Movement
is attempting to do it's work on q
democratic basis. It is neither dictat-
ing nor attempting to dictate to any
church or denomination what shall be
done. The denominations in ea ch
county must decide unanimously
among themselves on any joint coun.
ty program for church betterment be-
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 denolni-
rational interests.
An 1nterchurch World Movement
survey Of a county develops facts as TO
the county's geographical location and
the general character Of its agricui-
tural, commercial and industrial life,
its road system and means of. inter.
communication, public school system
and other educational institutions, vel
iare and benevolent institutions, other
organizations and individuals engag.
ed in public service for the entire
county.
Accompanying general survey of
a county is more detailed survey OF
each community, community being
regarded as unit of territory and
population characterized b! common
economic and social expert tnces and
interests.
The community survey designa' IS
the outline and location OF the com
,nunity on information acquired frcm
atorekeepers. bankers and other in
formed persons. Territory not def
nitely included within the limits Ok
any trade community is considered IL
connection with the communities 10
which it is contiguous and TO which
il is most closely related. Thus no
area is omitted in the enumeration OF
population and other statistical il
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
srs 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 surrey 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
UUllutu6S dn0 CtuiPhiSat, uOLuUSl SUPP
regular and special meetings and tab
ulated results therefrom, statistics as
TO area covered by the parish, number
CT families reached, parish problems
and other data 10 give a compreheH.
siye 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 county, com.
rnunity and chrrch-asscmblc all in.
formation that may be needed to aid
the individual churches and denor,i-
nations in working out their present
problems and future programs OF de-
yelopment, so that wasted effort may
be eliminated and unproductire ac-
tiYities Of each denomination may BIO
transferred to productive fields.
The need of such systematic Judy
Of church conditions is apparent by
[ the results OF Investigation already
made in some sections of tho South,
!! if the churches arc TO accomplish ths
greatest nnSsibte amount OF good Tho