Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-06-16
GOOD ADDRESS ON
COMMUNITY LIFE.
PAPER is READ TO WOMEN
OF MISSIONARY
SOCIETY

4 lSSpy tSlldii WOllldH Rome ana
society, study on "Com-
munity Life" written by Mrs. S. M.
b. Smith was read by Mrs. G. f.
Woodward The paper deals with many
things of interest in every communi-
ty and follows in part
I'm recent talk before the Mis-
sionary society Rev. Eastwood re-
marked that one very frequent criti-
cism of Missionary work is Well, we
feel there's plenty of missionary
work to be done right here at home
without going to foreign lands
Program is Answer
"And your program answered the
criticism in this manner: Very we'll,
since many feel that way we will
bring our missionary work and camp
right on your front steps, We will
study our own community They
chose for our topic the coming six
months The Church and the Com
munity,' a book written by Mr.. Ralph
Diffendorfer.
Everyone has a more or less clear
idea of what is meant by the word
community 1t is a very old word
but has taken new lease of life.
When we were children you remember
there used to be open spaces for the
children to play, before the modern
playground movemnt and we'd say
We're just gong out on the commons
to play the place where we had a
right to play together--a primitive
community idea. Evey town is di-
vided UP into communities of one sort
or another.
characteristics
I'm Wausau we used to speak of
one pat OF town as 'Parcherville,' an
other Behind the Creek and our
church is located, as you surely must
know, right in the heart of Yankee
town. In northern Wisconsin rural
communities we find groups of people
settling near each other who speak
the same language, go to the same
church--in fact, have so much in COM
mon that they form community like
the settlement of Hollanders near
Hatley for example. Where there is
no bond of language or religion, the
rural community is formed by it's
trade CENTER The old cracker bar
rel of the rural store used to be the
forum of the community where every
question was settled. Precious little
that didn't get discussed between the
stove and the cuspidor.'
Referring to the difference between
the city and county community, Mrs.
Smith told of the various elements
which antagonize community life.
"We certainly are getting some jolts
about the effectiveness of our 'Ameri-
can Melting Pot" she added, land it
is high time that we consider what
there is to fight against in our Amer
ican life.
Undermining Influences
"Mr. Diffendorfer mentions seven
things that undermine national life,
racial antagonisms; class conflicts,
expressed in strikes and boycotts
which cause the whole community to
suffer; politics, with bosses out for
selfish gain; commercialized amuse-
what the author means
by that | do not understand; sectarian
religion when it destroys the realiza-
tion of common religious ideals and
goals.
"Over against these he names twelve
good fairies. Some we have in our
own community and some. we haven't.
The twelve are: the old town meet
ing; the assembly of all the people
for the election Of school trustees;
the public schools; public institutions
like the library; town athletics, pa
geants-our county fair is certainly a
good, old fashioned community af-
fair; 1t is democratic and wholesome;
central markets; community funds;
federal labor councils; chamber of
commerce, Rotary and Kiwanis clubs;
council of social agencies and last but
surely not the least he mentions the
churches as federation"
Lonesome Group Left
Where and how does the church
come in? is the next question asked.
Mrs. Smith said: "The church will
have to choose the organizations it
will work with and having chosen, CO.
operate. Has the church any right to
assume leadership? Right here in
Wausau subtract the number of
church members who are doing work
in our Federated Charities, Infirmary,
Hospitals, Red Cross, Y. NJ and Y. w.
G.. A. and see what a lonesome little
group you will have left. 1t is our
churches that are mothering all these
splendid and useful organizations and
that certainly gives us a right to de-
eide what is the most valuable COM
munity program. Who knows better
than the church the needs of the indi-
vidual? Who has better earned the
right to leadership?
81 recently found in the corner OF
the garret an old history of Northern
Wisconsin, published in 1881, just
forty years ago. 1t gives an account
Of the beginning of the churches here
in Wausau and have copied it word
for word. Some OF the older women
are with us and we are grateful for
the memory of women like Mrs. Mary
Poor, Mrs. William r. Stewart, Mrs.
j. M. Smith, Mrs. Underwood, who
came later, Mrs. Carl Mueller. and
dozens of others who have gone, and
/ would be the last to forget the con-
sistent service of my own mother in
this church of ours.
"a community after all, is made up
Of individuals and 1t is the collective
beauty and strength of character that
makes place worth while"
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