Six Thousand Country Churches

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ne congregation. But they had both neglected to provide means of meeting many of the community's needs, such as opportunities for social life, recreation, and athletics, or to stimulate others to make provision for them. As usual under such conditions, gambling and other amusements o

ring communities. The life of the neighborhood has been made more attractive, especially for the young people, while some of the forms of

ery rural community where it is neither feasible nor desirable to unite all the churches under the leadership of one pastor, a church federation should be formed to create conditions favorable to the develop

n with Other

prepared a sermon on the much needed country life movement, and sent a personal letter to every family in the area covered by the survey, inviting its members to come and hear his sermon. Large numbers responded. Then a mass meeting was called to discuss the situation, and the results of the survey were set forth. A committee was appointed to draw up a constitution for a community better

ics, or baseball. A library and public reading room was opened, a temperance program was adopted, farmers' institutes were established, and lectures on agriculture and home economics were given, together with a C

action has been felt in the churches. Whereas, formerly but 37? per cent of the population were church attendants, now there are 58 per cen

among the different churches, and their members work together gladly in community improvement. As the result of such an atmosphere the evils of overchurchi

st and West. In large numbers of communities, particularly where the churches cannot be federated, or where bitter feeling has resulted from in

Service and C

eighborhood. In the churches of the town seasons of protracted meetings were characterized by excessive emotion at the time, but by few permanent good results. While respect for religion is necessary to a high degree of moral and social life in any country community, a large proportion of the people in A

ster in the town, where he remained for nearly ten years. As the result of his leadership the whole community now has a high regard for religion and the church, while

ecial instruction and entertainment, social gather

actor in the life of the community. The other church is well attended and is generally recognized as the community church. The members of the two chur

fact large numbers of country pastors, widely scattered over the United States, entirely independent of one another or of the literature of any special movement, have made and carried out programs for church and community betterment which i

ork for their community, and later on stimulated the older men to do their part also, until finally it became recognized in Ashley that the dut

on. The people did not fail to recognize his aims, and, in consequence, were satisfied with his leadership. Thus it became possible for him and his church to work to satisfy the needs of all the people. The Presbyterians and F

economics, lectures on sanitation and prevention of diseases, gave socials and festivals, promoted athletics, maintained a church gymnasium, and formed farmers' clubs and helped them in their work. Though there were lodges in Ashley which held oc

ial and other needs of the community. So well did they do their work that other organizations were found to be unnecessary. One unusual feature of the pastor's work was the com

this pastorate, and large sums have been spent for building and improvements. Yet nevertheless the community did not furnish adequate support for its pastor, undoubtedly because as in the case of nearly all past

at he lived in the community he served; that he was given a long term of servic

em suitable places for the rearing of children. The church, as a whole, should spare no effort in providing large numbers of such men to do this kind of

an Unity b

three or four other churches, but from 1912 Springfield Township was left without a resident minister for three years. Under these circumstances it was inevitable that social and moral decline should begin, for the modern community's needs cannot be met by the old-fashioned circuit system. More and more the better families moved

hat it was going from bad to worse, joined in deciding that a resident minister was necessary. Money was raised,

ister's salary. During his first year, $1,540 was raised, $900 of which went for the support of the minister. In the second year no less than $7,5

and at the Sunday school, while the real membership increased from less than 100 to 315. When the Presbyterians saw the manifest good that could be brought by united Christian action, they became members of the Methodist E

ers left, and the place became comparatively orderly. The village has been transformed from a rural slum to a very decent community,-a sa

social service, athletics, including basket ball, a full program of social activities, lectures to promote an intelligent interest in agricultu

use of the program of country church service with which, through the Conference of the Commission on Church and Country Life which was held in Columbus in 1915 and through modern co

as a Force for

y other communities where a similar program has been carried out, with the same results. These cases constitute a fairly conclusive demonstration that the varied community life whic

f his community by taking part in the Ohio Rural Life Survey. One direct result of his work is a centralized agricultural high school, which will become the means o

achievement of real importance. It appears from Map 12, which is based on data from the United States Census, that, in no less than 54 of the 88 counties of Ohio, more than 25 per cent of the farms in the year 1910 were operated by tenants. On Map 13 it appears that in no less than 50 counties the number of farms operated by tenants is increasing. Here is one of the great obstacles

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modern country church movement. Indeed, we have observed no notably progressive country churches in small communit

or the young people, but looked upon matters which have to do with recreation, entertainment, and physical development as foreign to it. To give them attention was regarded as beneath its dignity. This attitud

id not differ materially from those of the pastors of Ashley, Ontario, and Old Fort. Every wholesome feature of community life was regarded by him as a matter of

uditorium of the consolidated school was made the social center of the community. The pastor and the members of his church were the initiators and chief supporters of the program of recreation, instruction, and entertainment which was c

make much of his pastoral work. The close touch of the minister with the members of his church and community greatly added to the effectiveness of the evangelistic services whi

e churches in the community and so encountered none of

t for using his knowledge and native ability, and should therefore attract a better type of man to the rural ministry. The church as a whole should be active in presenti