The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1927-10-07
TOO MANY METHODIST
CHURCHES SAYS GLASS
The Consolidated Rural Church Is AS Feasible
as the Consolidated Rural School, Says
Elizabeth City's Presiding Elder

The Rev. III. |. Glass, Presid-
in" Elder of the Elizabeth CITY
District of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church South. concurs
with James G.. Gregory. Clerk
to the Chowan Baptist Asso-
citation. that there are too many
small preachers.
! In IN interview published ex-
cluSively in this newspaper last
week MIR. Gregory. who is one of
the best Informed Baptist laymen in
N'rsh Carolina, dcplored the fact.
i'm his opinion that the Baptist
church is losing ground in the rural
districts because small. uaattrac-
| tive and poorly served churches
can no longer attract and hold the
/ interest and devotion of the people.
What Mr.. Gregory says about
the Baptist churches will apply
with equal force To the condition
confronting the Methodist denomi-
nation says Presiding Elder Glass.
And in the opinion of Mr.. Glass
there are too many churches in
town a> we'll as too many churches
in the country. The Rev. +. s.
Love. pastor of the First VI. f.
Church South in this city. goes fur
ther and concludes that there are
altogether too many denominations
Mr.. Glass thinks that the Con
/ SOlidated Rural Public School has
/ pointed Il way for the churches
Little educational progress is made
! In Il rural district served by Il large
number of small. poorly heated
poorly ventilated and poorly fur
| niShel sch. ol houses conducted by
| poorly paid and indifferent teachers
The little one room school houses
are abandoned: Il hi%. comfortable
| attractive central school is built. II
| i provided with IN auditorium
reading room. library. Laboratories
and equipment for domestic science
studies. Better teachers are EN-
I nj; ycl. Trucks are sent ont fol
! miles and miles in every directi@l
To- brin. the children into school
| i'm the marnin. and take them back
home after school Education ad
vunceS. the nei=hbonrh"od Is OK
handed npighbourhord Interest
centerS i'm the hi. and efficient con
Snlidatc,l school Everybody l.
happy.
; The churches must come to that
thinks Mr.. Glass. An educated ano
rroSpcrou< people Ownin" ant'm"
hilcS and living on PaNGi highway
,ra nor ..ninr TO sit III shabby littit
,.hnrt.heS and listen 20 a poorly Nnio
upd urlinformp,l minister ana 4
strn-.Iin. chair of corn-fed voices
They would lie more surely attract
pd to Il biz. fine centrally l"ca'e'
borSe of worship with IL fOrcetu
n,Stor yoGd music. larger fel
low>hip.
And for the benefit of those wh'
haven't automobiles of their 'Wh II
transport them the longer distance
to church. Mr.. Glass would semi "'o
trucks. Trucks would hrln" th'
children into Sunday school ah'
fake them lack home. Mr.. "ia>'
believpS that Il closer cooperation
Ic,veen the rural churches AMI Inc
r,r,I schools would result Ill th'
rl,cinr of the school trucks at th'
disnoSaI of the church on sundays
This has been done in Wilson '"'lii
-. There WAS no legal AUTHORITY
for il hmt Prof. Coon. head OF th'
Wilson County schools doeSh wal
unou authority. He PAT the Sch'"
Trucks to work on Sundays hanii"'
,.hi,drep To and from Sunday Scl"o
and mo- one made any Kick a"o''' II
And so this newspaper has a"'''
started a discussion that may ,e''
tn something. The IDdependen
vcuId like to have expressions ii'''
other ministers and lnymen thr""''
the State. Space in this newSpape'
will I've gladly given TO serious -" 49,,
thoughtful communications Oh '''
Snhipt.t.