The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-02-26
TurIoPD,s ACRE PLAN FOX
COUNTRY CHURCHES

The Lords Acre" plan lor
rural churches, sponsored by the r'''iile'
Federation and directed by the Rev. DU-
mont Clark for that enterprise, has Oeeii
growing in favor in Western North O"ro
lima for the past several years. NOW IL
seems to be slated for national recOgliUioi''
tho snonsors having been successful IN Sc
curing for the principal speaker at the
orrua1 meeting in Asheville last Saturday
Henry A. Wallace, Secretary OF Agrlcui-
ture, As a matter of fact, however, the
nlan was receiving widespread recognition
before Secretary Wallace attended this
roatin0 The Rev. Dumont Clark stated at
the meeting that inquiries are beng ire
ouentlv received from all sections OF the
limited States, seeking information about
the plan.
The Farmers Federation cannot claim
originality for the Lords Acre plan, ana
probably has no intention of doing So Ou'
Is certainly entitled to much credit for IN
Producing it into Western North Carolina
and for the liberality with which it has
promoted the plan.
Quite as impressive as the speech of Sec
retary Wallace at Saturdays meeting IN
the Asheville Central Methodist church,
before an audience estimated at one thou
sand persons, was the Lords Acre pro-
gram in which number of men and We
men of this section of the State partlclpat-
ed. One and all warmly endorsed the plan
as they told how it has helped the hnanc-
ING of country churches. Two of the strong
est endorsements were by Henderson eouh-
ty citizens, Harry Roberts OF Fletcher and
L. L. Burgin of Mills River. Mr.. ROBERTS
spoke of the success of the plan at Calvary
church, Fletcher, and the Episcopal mis-
sion at Edneyville. Mr.. Burgin related the,
experience of Mills River Presbyterian,
church with the plan. The test of any plan,
Mr.. Burgin said, is, Does it work? The
Lords Acre plan works, he declared.
The large and vital place of the country
church in American life is a matter of his
toric record, but it is also known to those
familiar with church history that in the
past 25 or 80 years the rural churches have
lost much ground in many parts of the
country. 1t is said that several thousand
country churches have passed out of exist
ence in the United States in that period.
The causes of this condition it is not neces-
sary to discuss here, but the country wide
Importance of this development in rural
church life cannot be over-estimated.
1t is found that one of the weaknesses
of the country churches has been under
financing. Thousands of them have lacked
adequate financial support for local work
and have been able to contribute little OF
nothing to UNCONVENTIONAL causes. The
Lords Acre plan, here in Western North
Carolina, has been used successfully in
financing rural churches; but its results in
arousing the religious zeal and deepening
the spiritual life of the people was the
matter chiefly stressed by, those church
leaders who spoke for it at the Asheville
meeting.
In his address to the Lords Acre meet
ing, Secretary Wallace not only spoke Of
the vital place the country churches have
in our national life, but voiced the earnest
conviction that religion must be given first
place, in rural and urban life, before the
United States can with safety and assur-
ance claim that normal conditions have
been restored. Religion is the greatest