mm ■ Vtv3 Trt J Saat: jf^QrirW This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS only, and is subject to a fine of TWO CENTS a day thereafter. T* ««n u„ j.._ __ the day indicated below DATE DUE CARD rfe ^ ^ PAMPHLETS ON THE COUNTRY CHURCH 9 * 9 % Volume 3 f 0£ Federal council of the churches of Christ in America. What every church should know about its community* General Association of Congregational Churches of Massachusetts. Advance reports of various committees. 1908 and 1909 McElfresh, F. The country Sunday school MclTutt, M. B. Modern methods in the country church Mc-Nutt., M« B. A post-graduate school with a purpose Massachusetts Federation of Churches, Quarterly bulletin. Facts and factors. October 1910 "The part of the church in rural progress as discussed at the Amherst Conference." Root, E. T. State federations Taft, A. B. The mistress of the rural manse Taf t , A. B. The tent mission Taylor, G. Basis for social evangelism with rural applications Wells, G« F. An answer to the Hew England country church question. Wells, G. F. What our country churches need Wilson, W. H. The church and the transient Wilson, W. H. Conservation of boys Wilson, W. H. The country church Wilson, W. H. The country church program Wilson, W. H. Don't breathe on the thermometer Wilson, W. H. The farmers 1 church and the farmers' £3 college co Wilson, W. H . Getting the worker to church O- LU C0 Wilson, W. H. The girl on the farm Wilson, W. H. How to manage a country life institute Wilson, W. II, "Marrying the land." Wilson, W. H. ITo need to "be x-'oor in the country Wilson, W. H. Synod's opportunity Wilson, W, H. What limits the rural Evangel '»S4T>*9» l » The church. and country life. Pamphlet issued by the Board of Home Missions of the Presby- terian Church. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/countrychurchwor03pres rv y By Jeannie Pendleton Ewing Clear-eyed and prim, with walls of white Among the leaves of birch That tinged but did not stem the light, Nestled the little church, All summer open to the air And all that green a-qudver there. About were tender, dreamy sounds: The stamp of horses' feet, The mumbling bees upon their rounds Where cilover nodded sweet, A piping quail — the grain low-bent Showed where her furtive flutterings went. Used by courtesy of the Youth's Companion Next father in the pew's long row Came urchins sternly shod; Next mother — for she planned it so — The child who first would nod, Laying, when sermon-time oppressed, His poppy cheek upon heir breast. Bare stretched your aisle and long your hour To many a childish wiight, Wee church ! yet, rich in holy power, You blessed as angels miight Long years have gone — our faith is true; Long years we've prayed, because of you! ®be Eurai Cbangei ^ Gospel for Every Man Must Be a Gos- pel for All I 4.__„: „„_„„_„„_„„_„„_„„_„„_„.,_„„_„„_, — „„_„„_„„_„„_.„_„„_„„_„. „ — „ — „„_„„_„. — .4. (^tetacles; to Eural Cbangeltsim What Limits the Rural Evangel WARREN H. WILSON OF all the churches the country church is the most faithful in preaching the gospel. The country minister or- ganizes his work -so as to deliver the message in the greatest number of places. Yet the returns from country churches show a lesser proportion of conversions and accessions to the church than are reported from the city churches. The shrinkage in rural population is not a sufficient reason for this arrested evangelism. Growth of country churches attends both the increase and the decrease in the population. The first obstacle to the growth of the country church is a static condition of the country community. When things are at a standstill religious growth is arrested. The country neighborhood for the gospel's sake needs new businesses. Second, the divisions among Christians stand in the way of conversion of individu- als. There is a sort of covenant of peace be- tween religious sects at the present time. Re- vivals are held by consent and the commun- ity goes to them, but there is a strict code as to the division of the names of those converted. This condition is the result of years of denominational agitation. The dead interests of the past rule the work of the present. The country church needs a gospel of practical unity. One of its ripest fruits will be a great revival of re- ligion among country people in the early future. Third, the engrossment of farmers in eco- nomic affairs at the present time is due to a crisis severe and critical, but while it lasts religious matters wait. It is profoundly im- portant that the ministers understand this severe strain under which the farmer is laboring, for the man who bears the burden needs the comfort, and the guidance, not merely for the future world, but for the pres- ent struggle and the immediate need. It is important that, as the Old Testament preach- ers did-, the modern preacher shall interpret the divine message to the needs of the people in an economic crisis. Fourth, there is great unrest and discon- tent with country life on the part of women and young people, which causes them to think of moving from the country. This keeps many people away from the church and lifts their interest out of the parish. Evangelism will not be fully successful until a new way of country living is taught and new ideals are furnished, with new machin- ery for satisfaction and profit in the country home. Fifth, many country people are tenants. In some communities half the population, in others more than half ; in some states as many as sixty-five per cent, of the farmers are renters. In all states the customary THE RURAL EVANGEL lease of the farm tenant is one year. This means that about half of the farmers in America move once in five years. A harder situation than this could not confront the gospel. The gospel as it is shown in the Ohio survey, has about half the power of access to the tenant that it has to the farm owner. European nations are attempting by law to transform a farm renter into an own- er. Until this is accomplished both in Amer- ica and in Europe, the country church will require stronger men and the use of more churches, which like the Presbyterian, believe in a resident pastor, in an organized body of work, in the diligent training of the young, in catechizing and schooling the whole con- gregation, these churches have to compete with denominations which use less thorough methods. Presbyterian congregations have surrendered their heritage and given over the ministry which is theirs by tradition. Except in the older state's the Presbyterian Church is not organized. Its pastors do not live with the people. Its presbyteries have WAY OFF IN THE MOUNTAINS POINTING COUNTRY FOLK HOMEWARD abundant missionary funds than the city churches employ. Facing these obstacles there is a sixth ; namely, the inferior organization of the rural church. The Sunday schools are poor. The ministers are often absentees. As a rule they preach, especially in some repre- sentative denominations, not by the Sabbath, but by the month, returning once in two or in four Sundays to the meeting house for whose worship they are responsible. So long as the churches, were missionary and looked forward to improvement, this con- dition was tolerable ; but now it means con- tentment with little, satisfaction with infer- iority. Many country people defend this system as being the full expression of the gospel. The no authority. Its congregations are inde- pendent in government, emotional by pref- erence in religious expresision, and deliber- ately inefficient so far as church work goes. Seventh, a great obstacle to the preaching of the Word of God is in the low utility of the gospel preached. Some ministers insist that the test of utility should not be applied. Most farmers and other country people, on the contrary, are strenuously devoted to the adaptation of means to ends. Country life is undergoing a radical reconstruction and every institution must be tested for its value in satisfying needs. The people are hungry, they are weary, they need comfort, and the gospel preached to them does not encourage, does not strengthen them for the day's work. So long as the pulpits in the country ignore THE RURAL EVANGEL the religious character of the struggle througn which the farmer is going, the farm- er will not in large numbers express his re- ligious feeling through church membership. The men whose hearts God has touched will not join the church. The Master commended His gospel by its utilitarian features when He described it to John the Baptist. He commanded His fol- lowers to preach a gospel of utility when He told them to feed the sheep. Country people need a churCh that is open to all the interests of the community. They need every-day re- ligion, such a® is written into the Bible. They need an idealism that glorifies the hard work of tne day, a hope that redeems the sordid business of the week and makes it noble and divine. All this sordid and toilsome country labor is divinely interpreted in the Bible, but too often it is thought unpracticable and is spiritualized. It needs to be brought back again to daily use. The last obstacle to evangelism is the dimmed inspiration of the Bible, which is a book luminous to the farmer's eyes. Many passages which define country life and labor are used for burial services ; others are ig- nored, because they offer no handle for alle- gorical or figurative arousement of emotion. They do not appeal to the fancy. Yet the people in church need matter of fact, plain teaching about animals and soil and work; about sex and sorrow and love and birth and death. They need to be taught something that will prepare them for the day, as food does. It is all in the Bible, with no inter- preter. The fact that the plain message of Scripture is ignored has much to do witb the indifference of country people to the evangel. We do not need something new. We need to realize what we have. The most traditional and conservative minister sbould put bis heart into what he believes, and he will be at once the most successful country minis- ter. We have gone after so many fancy and emotional ideals in religion that we do not remember the efficiency of the Protestant Church, which is the divinely given institu- tion for the service of the people living in small communities. We need a belief in the Church as the body of Christ, "the Bride of the Lamb," "the pillar and ground of the truth." J The Village Monopoly of the Gospel LUCIEN V. RULE THE subject assigned me in this sym- posium is, '"The Village Monopoly of the Gospel," which, as the editor has suggested, signifies, "The tendency of the vil- lage to monopolize ministers and churches and schools to draw the best minds out of the country, giving them no spirit of service which would send them back into the country as evangelists, teachers and leaders of the people." We have dealt with that very tendency and condition in Brownstown and Crothersville, Indiana, where I am pastor, and where, as chairman of the Social Service and Country Life Committee of our presbytery, it is my business to find a way out of sucb difficulties. We have succeeded notably, by the blessing of God and the fine leadership discovered to us right on the field, and ours are small, struggling churches. In Brownstown and Crothersville, with a population of 2,000 and 1,200 respectively, the inevitable denominational rivalry for- merly tended to hold the local pastors in town, "to keep up the churches" and to thresh over the same old material in religious re- vivals year after year. The social life of the young people was sadly neglected or, worse still, put under strict prohibition by some parents and preachers. Separation and divis- ion were preached and practiced in both town and country, which only embittered the de- nominational rivalry already existing. In the midst of this narrow sectarianism, Preston Rider, founder of the Presbyterian church at Crothersville, got up a big national flag of boys and girls from all the Sunday schools of the township, years ago, on the Fourth of July at the fair grounds. The lit- tle folks were arranged in groups and lines to represent the Stars and Stripes, and a 6 THE RURAL EVANGEL splendid photograph was taken of them all. It was the greatest picnic ever given in those parts and gave a new spirit of brotherhood to six hundred young people. Mr. Rider was very resourceful and big-hearted in organ- izing and planning something that ev- erybody could enjoy. He first brought en- terprise and co-oper- ation into the busi- ness life of the town, and then he lifted his church forever above selfishness and bigotry by making it serve the community. His success'or to- day in Cr others ville, Clyde Reach, Super- intendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school, has engineer- ed both town and country to a new social relationship and a new commun- ity neighborliness. The town meeting and the public assemblage, either for business or pleasure, got the people together, and the thing was done. II. Of course this message had to come from the pulpit, and the Presbyterian church seven years ago took the lead. The High School did the work in an educational way through Prof. O. O. White, who, as one of his pupils truly said, "Introduced the new social life into the old religious atmosphere." All the churches duly fell in line, and when the Bo> and Girl Scout movement was organized the rising generation left the old prejudices for- ever behind. You cannot discover an atom of sectarianism in the young people of Cro- thersville today who received the training of the Scout work. They will work anywhere you assign them. The Copper Bot- tom Sunday school and Neighborhood church near Croth- ersville is a yet more remarkable success. Mr. Leonard Gillas- py was its day school teacher for years, and for years he has been the teacher of two splendid Bible classes every Sun- day, one at the Cro- thersville Presbyter- ian Church at ten a. m. and at Copper Bottom at three p. m. He reorganized both schools in a thor- oughly modern way and is such a noble incarnation of the country life move- ment that Home Mis- sion leaders in two presbyteries have made him flattering to give his time to the offers whole work. BY BABBLING BROOK Leonard Gillaspy is a young farmer and day school teacher. He is a college man and a born community leader. You will find him on spring days between the plow handles, for, like Gideon Blackburn, he thinks and studies in the open. He draws liis illustrations from life and experience. The farmers in his neighborhood quit going to church because they got tired of sectarianism and hungered for the gospel of brotherhood. Gillaspy lived it and taught it and they turned the Copper Bottom school-house into a little temple where they all meet together Sunday after- noons to study and talk about the Word of Life and the Father-Friend. You can often see the moist eye and the quivering lip as this young teacher talks to his big grown-up pupils. Gillaspy is the finest day school institute instructor in Jackson County. He broke down the old lingering prejudice against the THE RURAL EVANGEL THE UPLIFTING CENTRE OF A FAR-STRETCHED COUNTRY SIDE consolidated High School in Crothersville. No teacher in the county has made more of poor, backward, disheartened pupils 1 than he. His sympathy aud patience are proverbial. He holds his institutes in town at the High School and draws thither the parents and teachers from all over the township. Quar- terly all-day meetings and dinners cement the educational and community spirit. He work- ed hand in hand with Prof. White till the good task was accomplished. III. It was inevitable that these community movements would take on an organized fra- ternal form. The churches and lodges became imbued with the new spirit and the Social Crusaders were instituted to express it amongst the young people. The Crothersville Epworth League became inter-denominational as a result and a new socialized Christian Endeavor sprang up in the Presbyterian church. National holidaj 7 s, religious anni- versaries, neighborhood reunions and family festivals have recovered the old time good will and fellowship when the country was new and people dependent upon each other. Men like Gillaspy are born fraternity leaders. They make social and religious institutions stand for what they profess ; and the new time has already manifested itself in these communities. You will have to be on the ground to get into the spirit of it ; but these men, and many noble women we have not named, have already laid the foundation for the kingdom in their midst. Shepherding a Scattered Flock LOWIUE D. CORY 1HAVE often wondered how rapid would be the growth of the churches in our cities, and how steady would be the de- velopment in spiritual things of the members of city churches, if the same conditions pre- vailed which exist in so many of our country districts. And the question is more insistent in my own mind from personal knowledge of the city church, with its many organiza- tions and equipment for large service. How long would that city church survive which had a service but once a month. Would the members of that city church prize more high- ly the occasional service, or fall into the easy s THE RURAL EVANGEL habit of so many others of non-attendance. And what large opportunity that city pastor would have to exercise his talents to develop his people at the same ratio, if instead of hearing him fifty or an hundred times, be- sides prayer meeting, he should have but twelve opportunities in the year to break to them the Bread of Life. Yet that is the situation in more than one country parish in our land, and is the pre- vailing condition in the work of all the de- strikes at some point on the earth and makes its impression felt. Or to change the figure, the shepherd is not so much interested in seeing how many miles he can travel with his flock in the course of the day, but in find- ing the best pasture and the best watering places. Other things unite with such conditions to hinder the progress of the gospel. The roads in many of these country parishes are in nominations represented in this work in this mountain region of Western North Carolina. The pastor who has charge of but one church is the exception. And not a few preach twice every Sunday in the month, and face a dif- ferent congregation at each service. And there are a few communities which have a regular service only on a fifth Sunday, which means but four times in the year. The plea may be made that in this way one is able to cover larger territory and bring more people within the hearing of the gospel. But the best results are not always from diffusion of power. The sheet lightning only lights up the heavens for a brief moment of time. But the chain, or forked, lightning many cases only places where roads ought to be, and even in this respect judgment has not always been used, and at times our "circuit rider" finds the roads well-nigh impassable. Also in many cases the salary does not per- mit our shepherd of the out-lying district to provide himself with almost the first tool of his trade, a horse, a mule, or, where the roads permit, an automobile. He has but two choices, to depend on the mercy of those who will lend or hire him a horse, or walk. Neither is he always certain that the weather will permit a large congregation to gather, even though he make it known by word and practice that no weather shall hinder him in meeting his appointment. THE RURAL EVANGEL 9 Out of such conditions certain hindrances arise, which may be briefly stated. 1. There is a lack of trained leadership. Much might be accomplished by the utiliza- tion of the lay forces, if such forces could be made available. 2. Lack of intimate knowledge of the peo- ple in their homes and at their work. The message suffers and the pastor and people alike suffer from the lack of the vital touch. 3. Aggressive evangelistic work must, in the main, be reserved for revival services feeling of responsibility in meeting the fin- ancial obligations of the church. It is diffi- cult to appeal to the idea of systematic giv- ing. Too much praise cannot be given to those faithful community workers, who, acting as pastor's assistants in the work of our church, are, among other things, doing much to secure regularity of services, especially through the Sunday-school. Perhaps, in closing, a chapter from one Sunday in such a pastor's life will be inter- esting. Like Samuel Johnson, this pastor instead of through individual work. The ten- dency of these meetings, heretofore, has been almost harmful, in the appeal that has been made to the emotions, and the inability to throw around the young Christian an atmos- phere conducive to growth. The top soil has been scratched over so many times that the fertilizing element has all been used, and the response is now meagre. A deeper stirring is needed, and ip some cases only dynamite will suffice to break the crust. 4. Division of forces breeds a lack of the must be an early riser on Sunday morning. There follow in order Sunday-school and church services in his home town. Then he must hurry through dinner, and be off — this time on a borrowed mule — not later than 1.30 for another appointment five miles away. No time is allowed him for rest, digestion of his dinner or collection of his scattered thoughts. And today he is especially anxious to be early on the field, because the sudden death of one of the members of the church at this point on Friday may bring the funeral service at 10 THE RURAL EVANGEL the hour of the regular service. On the way he stops but a moment at the house of one for whom he is trying to secure a patent for a useful discovery to leave word that no news had as yet come whether the application had been favorably passed on. Ten minutes be- fore the hour for preaching he arrives at the school-house where the services are held, where desks are the pews, and finds that it was necessary to hold the funeral service in the morning, a minister nearer at hand hav- ing been called in to conduct the service. A few minutes rest and he faces a good con- gregation for the preaching service of the afternoon. After the service a bite to eat at the board of the community worker, while certain things of interest in the community are discussed, and Cradle Roll certificates signed. Then a ride of half a mile farther, and his mule must be tied while he climbs straight up the side of the mountain 1,000 feet or more, in the still blazing sunshine, to the home just bereaved of the husband and father. Then back to home and wife and baby in the gathering dusk, stopping for a word with some one on the road, or a chat at a house, reaching town just as the union service of the evening is beginning, which he must miss this time, and which he is glad it is not his Sunday to conduct. The Stay-at-Home Women MARGARET B. BARNARD A LADY living in the city asked me some years ago why so many people in the country did not go to church, and seemed much surprised when I replied that they failed to go for very much the same reasons that city people lost the habit. Hu- man nature in city and country is much alike, but the environment will influence the nature of the audit, and create different causes for the same effect. Church going is, after all, more or less a habit, and if circumstances prevent attendance for a time, one is 1 very apt to drift, and to feel that the hour of worship is not so essential as it once seemed. There are four prominent reasons why wo- men acquire the stay-at-home-from-church habit in the country : I. Young women who may have been ac- customed to attend church and even to be ac- tively interested in all Christian work, marry, and for a short time keep up the church-going habit. Then the babies come. There is no one with whom to leave them. The mother must stay at home, and the father falls into the way of staying at home with her. By the time the children are old enough to go also, the custom of church at- tendance is unhappily lost. It is a great ef- fort to get up, dress the children, do the work and "I guess I won't go today," ends the sub- ject. Gradually an indifference is developed which is very difficult to overcome, for we are seldom interested in things to which we do not contribute by money or personal effort. II. Supposing that the mother, after her children are large enough, desires to attend church, she is often delayed or prevented by the lack of clothes. In a city or town, given the money, one can go to a store and buy the necessary articles. In the country it is very different. A woman must consult a catalogue from a mail order house, m'ake out the order carefully, then wait till there is a chance to go to the post-office for a money order, — it may be several days, — and after that bide in patience the action of the mails. AH this de- lay is inevitable if there is ready money, but often in the country there is a lack of that commodity when the family is not really suf- fering. So she must bide her time until the sale of some farm product brings the neces- sary cash, and the desire, which was very real in the beginning, dies put, and even the arrival of the clothes does not revive it. III. A third difficulty is distance. The church is often three or four miles from home, and bad roads at certain seasons of the year make the trip a long one. Unless one is deep- ly religious, or very enthusiastic, this obstacle is a serious one. Then again if the husband does not wish to go, there may be no horse which the woman can drive, or, in many cases the horses are too tired after their week's work to be taken out, and the longing for church and companionship is again denied. IV. After giving due credit to these very material, but very practical reasons, it is fool- ish to deny that our churches have not THE RURAL EVANGEL 11 touched the community life as they should. The country ministers have too often been men with- out training, or men who have failed elsewhere. They have not command- ed the respect of the peo- ple, and nothing so in- jures the position of the church as the unnChris- tian life of those who represent it. If ministers or elders or deacons fail in the every-day virtues of honesty, justice, truth, we need not wonder that a prejudice is created which has a very close connection with the stay- at-home habit in men and women. These are a few general reasons for non-attend- ance. Can we do any- thing to remedy them? I believe so. While our country church must stand for the vital truths of Christianity, while its first duty is to in- spire the spirit of pure, sincere worship, and make God a living fact in the lives of all who come under its influence, it cannot attain success even here unless it also seeks to serve the people, in their every-day needs. Some of our city churches have a kindergarten for the little children during the church hour, so that the mothers and fathers may have a chance for the rest and refreshment that is their due. The country church needs this also, and it would be a great boon to many tired parents. But the country church is so poor that it can- not afford this luxury, some will say ! The knowledge of the need will often pave the way to the achievement. The church cannot eliminate distance. It can throw its influence, however, in favor of the good roads movement, and so overcome one of the difficulties in the way of church- going. Then, too, it can carry its services to the people. Dr. Persons, of Cazenovia, N. T., is a notable example of such splendid work. So the Congregational Home Mission- GATHERING SPRING BEAUTIES ary Society in Massachu- setts has been a valuable factor in this way. It has planted its Gospel tents in many neglected localities, and has reach- ed people who had be- come indifferent, and heedless of their own re- ligious needs and obliga- tions. As to supporting the church, very few women in the country handle much money themselves. Among the more pro- gressive farmers, the wife's work is receiving recognition financially and otherwise, but there are still many of the old- fashioned kind who keep their wives in economic dependence, and it is only by chance that such women have occasionally a few dollars they may call their own. There- fore while women main- tain a large proportion of the churches by their re- ligious activity and their devoted labor, they are not always in a posi- tion to pay the bills except through the sew- ing meetings and cake sales. There is no one harder to arouse than the confirmed stay-at-home, be it man or woman, but like St. Paul, our churches must learn to be all things to all men and women. If the call of the Sunday morning church bell awakens no response, it may be that a mother's club will arouse interest. Talks on the woman's side of country life, her prob- lems and difficulties, may succeed when the missionary meeting alone will not. A vital interest in the woman's life, a sympathy for her loneliness and isolation, a hearty en- deavor to help in practical ways, will bring her a revelation of what religion really is — that it is not only creed, but deed, that it is not only believing about Jesus, but it is living the Christ life, that it is not merely attend- ing church, but it is making the life of the entire community safer, cleaner, nobler, — a Christian common wen lth. Contorting tfje Community Converting the Neighborhood FRED EASTMAN BY converting the neighborhood I mean getting a new spirit into it. The average rural village in this country insists) that it is the most "peculiar" spot on earth, that wonderful things might be done in other places but "not in this town." To put in the place of this spirit a spirit of pride in the neighborhood, to put neighborly friendliness and co-operation in the place of suspicion and independence, to get the "new- comers" and "old-timers" alike to look upon the community as their own, belonging to them both, and as a place where it is good to live — this is to convert the neighborhood. Not until a community has this atmosphere can the church as an institution do its best work. I would like to use our own village and church as a concrete example, claiming neither that we are typical nor that we have had any tremendous success. But we feel that we have made progress and our experience may be helpful to others. Two years ago our community spirit was at low ebb. It was a spirit of "knock- ing" and of suspicion and of antagonism to any co- operative effort. I re- member about that time at a public meeting one of the old-timers said that "this town was called Locust Val- ley because there were so many low cusses in it." The membership of our church was 22 and the total yearly budget $600, and this in spite of the fact that an excellent preacher had been serving the church every Sunday. There was in this town, however, one live and active organization. It was a Neighbor- hood Association, made up largely of the wealthy summer residents who were for the most part men of big minds and broad public spirit. This organization had accomplished many splendid things for the community, but it had secured as yet little co-operation from the majority of the village people. The work of the association had grown so extensively that it was considering the employment of a secretary on full time. The church happened to be in need of a minister through the resig- nation on account of ill-health of the pastor at that time. I was called to occupy the dual SPORTS FOR THE LITTLE FELLOWS position of pastor of the church and secretary of the Neighborhood Association. After a talk with the members of our church and with the directors of the Neigh- borhood Association, we were all agreed that if we were going to make the church a live church we had better begin by making the community a live community. We resolved to make the church serve the community in any 12 THE RURAL EVANGEL 13 practical way that it could. We would preach no sermon® on why people ought to go to church. We would preach rather sermons on how the religion of loving one's neighbor as oneself could be applied to the problems of good roads and better schools and clean recreations. A few months after we started we held a New Year's Day resolution service and adopt- THEY ARE OFF! WORKING TO HOLD THE BOY ed individually and as a congregation the fol- lowing resolutions : To co-operate with my neighbors this year to the following ends : To construct a large building for such com- munity purposes as public recreation, library, concerts, lecture courses, gymnasium, club rooms and fire department. To properly maintain our roads. To bring producer and consumer in this vicinity closer together in some sort of co- operative enterprise. To secure cheaper lights. To improve the appearance of the neighbor- hood by proper disposal of rubbish, by the construction of sidewalks, by planting, and by beautifying all properties in which I have any interest. To aid the school board and the public school teachers in every progressive effort. To stick to these undertakings until they are accomplished, giving of my time and money as I am able, and doing all for the public good. A copy of these resolutions was tacked up in every place of business in the village and remained there during the following year. Each copy was signed by the proprietor. Many copies were tacked up in homes ; some were framed. Our Neighborhood Association and our church together have worked to get these reso- lutions fulfilled. We have failed to construct sidewalks and we have failed to bring pro- ducers and consumers closer together. But the community building has been built at a cost of about $30,000. Much voluntary labor was used in its con- struction. Our roads have been better main- tained than ever be- fore. We have secured cheaper lights. We have improved the ap- pearance of our neigh- borhood. We have con- solidated the music of our community under a music secretary. We have done what we could to aid the public school and to bring happiness into the lives of the school children and the teach- ers by automobile rides, picnics, and by spe- cial services in the church. Better than all these, however, a spirit of pride in the com- munity and of neighborly friendliness is growing day by day. Our Neighborhood As- sociation has done far more than our church in accomplishing these results, but our church has helped secure them by constant emphasis upon the need of them and by individual and collective co-operation with the committees of the Neighborhood Association. And what has been the result upon the church of its giving itself to the practical welfare of the community? The march of our church has been no triumphal procession along the path of progress. There have been many times, when we who are working in it were almost ready to give up. And yet looking back over our work we see signs of a new life appearing all along the way. A few weeks after we began our .igitation for an organization to furnish clean recreations one of the young men of the neighborhood came to me asking if I would reserve a few pews in church for "some of the fellows." I told him I would gladly reserve the whole church. We reserved a couple of pews along 14 THE RURAL EVANGEL the side aisle. The following Sunday they filled those two and two more. We have not been able to hold these young men steadily, but they appear spasmodically in groups and at nearly all special services. Our member- ship has more than quadrupled. When we began our membership was 22. Now it is 92. Our attendance has increased propor- tionately. Nearly every young man who was employed on the Neighborhood building last winter joined the church this spring. There are about 15 of these. Our budget is now $3,000 a year. In our pews we find "old tim- ers" and "new-comers" sitting side by side. We find wealthy summer residents and the employees on their estates singing out of the same hymn-books. We feel that as a church we have tested and found true the Master's saying, "He that loseth his life for my sake and the Gospel's shall save it." BESIDE QUIET WATERS Christianizing Rural Business ALBERT E. ROBERTS IT is both interesting and encouraging to note the remarkable advance in the ap- plication of the principles of pure and undefiled religion in business. Men every- where are hungry for it but, it is especially noticeable among those whose interests are rural socially or commercially. Even among those who fail to appreciate the mission of the church and who consequently support it only nominally if at all, there is abundant recognition of the principle of unselfish ser- vice as laid down in the teachings of Jesus. Moreover, so-called non-Christian men appre- ciate the fact that a practical application of these principles is impossible unless there be more than a human motive. The principal point of attack of the ene- mies of co-operation is that "as an ideal the scheme may be all right, but human nature is too selfish to work the plan, and that even among professing Christians self -interest is much stronger than altruism." There may be reason for this criticism, but the fact re- mains that every successful co-operative en- terprise has been based on a religious motive and there is gradually dawning on the con- THE RURAL EVANGEL 15 sciousness of the people of this country the truth that real satisfactions' of life are se- cured through application of the golden rule in .business!. An interesting side light on the enquiry of the American Commission for the study of rural credits, agriculture and coun- try life in European countries was the fact that practically every scheme of betterment that was working out to the advantage of country people economically or socially orig- inated in the minds and hearts of men and women whose sole ambition was to help and not exploit the rural people. Furthermore, they had no social, political or commercial axes to grind and therefore were obliged to tread the path of the pioneer — in some cases to suffer social and political ostracism. They were regarded as impractical idealists but be- cause their motives were more than human they never wavered. Their spirit was con- tagious and their followers are actuated by the same motive. David Lubin, the United States represen- tative to the International Institute of Agri- culture at Rome, told the writer that his philosophy was based on the prophecy of Isaiah, that the time should come when the sword® should be beaten into ploughshare? and the spears into pruning hooks — in other words, that agriculture should be the medium through which the nations of the world should come together. A study of what has already been accomplished through this end will reveal the fact that this is a sound philosophy. Signor Luzzatti, the apostle o'f the new rural Italy, spoke at length to the commission on making something out of nothing or capitalizing the good-will of men. Monsieur Viges, the grand old man of France, who resigned as Minister of Agri- culture after five successive terms, in order that he might become the president of the allied voluntary agricultural societies of all France ( without pay ) , moved the entire com- mission to tears as he modestly but passion- ately declared that his political services to his country were as nothing compared to the voluntary service as an apostle of co-opera- tion, for as a volunteer he was able to estab- lish an "agricultural mutuality" or brother- ly trustfulness among the farmers. Sir Hor- ace Plunkett's personality is greater than his propaganda and he draws by the great mo- tive of his life the ablest and best men of all Ireland, Protestant and Catholic. His spirit is contagious and among his followers are men and women working for a mere pit- tance or for no financial return' who could command in our country from five to ten thousand dollare annually. One splendid busi- ness man, an Oxford graduate who gives large blocks, of time and pays his own ex- penses, put it this way: "Sir Horace's life is a constant inspiration to me, and the work of promoting co-operation is great. He can have me or anything that I have." Is it any wonder that co-operation is a success in Ireland under such leadership? Many co-operative dairies were visited by the commission and always the village priest or the pastor was a factor in the organiza- tion and always men of unquestioned char- acter were the leaders — men who had caught the real spirit of service to others and who were doing much more than they were paid for in holding the co-operators together in times of crisis. — Christianizing rural business. Throughout Germany, where the Rural Credit System has perhaps been best worked out, the name of Raifaisen is held in loving memory by the people, for Raifaisen paid the price of efficiency in rural credit by placing service to his fellowmen above personal gain or greed. His system is of world renown, but he is remembered in Germany not pri- marily as a financier or the creator of an equitable plan of rural credit but as a friend of the people^ — a man who demonstrated the close relationship between character and credit and the economic value of a clean life. In every country visited by the commission this fundamental principle obtained. Wher- ever any plan or system of rural betterment really worth while was in operation its suc- cess depended upon unselfish leadership. Europeans for the most part are ready to concede this and without doubt this influence is having its effect upon rural business in this country, for everywhere it is manifest- ing itself. Agricultural experts are teaching the vital relationship of corn and character. A corn show exhibiting the product of a Young Men's Christian Association group in Michigan recently was held in the county courtroom. The judge in granting the use of his court remarked that if the boys of the county were busy producing more and better corn there would be less criminals to judge. Farmers are beginning to treat the soil as 16 THE RURAL EVANGEL though it were holy, and are conscious of working together with God when they pro- duce more and better crops. Bankers are recognizing the commercial value of good character. At a recent meeting of one of the most progressive State Bankers' Association of the Middle West, fifteen hundred bankers received two addresses on vital Christianity in its relation to the modern business mail with more enthusiasm than a full explana- tion of the Federal Reserve Bank System by a United States Congressman or a discussion of rural credits. No appeal meets with a more ready response than the one which spir- itualizes the commonplace and demonstrates to the farmer, the banker or any other rural business man the close relationship between good character and good business. The times are ripe for this gospel. It is an unprece- dented opportunity for the rural church. A Cooperative Country Church Movement F. L. ALLEN IN 1913 Jamestown, Pa., enjoyed a series of very profitable revival meetings, conducted by Evangelist Dr. W. W. Orr. Rev. H. E. Bright, of the M. E. church of Kinsman, O., conceived the idea of bring- ing the privileges of such a meeting to his rural community. Under his leadership the idea finally crystallized into an organization of the Christian workers of half a dozen dis- tinctively rural townships for the purpose of holding a country church revival. Dr. Orr was asked to conduct the meet- ings^ and in consenting said that it was something of an experiment ; that such meet- ings were always held in larger centers, where more people could be reached, and the country districts were neglected; that in coming to Kinsman he was turning down invitations from larger cities, to see if it were possible to reach the people of the country through such an organized co-opera- tive movement. The tabernacle used in Jamestown was purchased for $350, and carefully dismantled, and 19 farmers hauled it to Kinsman, the center of the co-operative group, on their sleds. Early in the spring 88 men of the "group," mostly farmers, got together and set up the tabernacle, the ladies of the churches serving dinner. Even before this the entire campaign was organized and the following committees were actively at work. Executive, finance, publicity, personal work, transportation, ushers, etc., and every- thing gotten in readiness for the meetings in June. This was indeed something of an experiment — a summer revival in the coun- try. The meetings were well advertised and much preparatory work done, and on Sun- day, May 31st, the first day of the meetings, the tabernacle was filled, and 1,000 country people heard the Gospel message presented as few of them had heard it before, and the success of the movement was assured. Dr. Orr said of his preaching, that it was the same old message they had always heard, the only difference was, that most preachers gave it cold, while he gave it hot. One of the strong features of the meetings was the choir of 100 voices led by Prof. H. P. Armstrong, who with his wife were em- ployed with Dr. Orr for the occasion. For three weeks Dr. Orr and Prof. Arm- strong preached and sang the Gospel each afternoon and evening at the tabernacle, and held morning services in the surround- ing townships'. People from all over the "group" as the co-operating territory was called, came in automobiles and carriages and often crowded the tabernacle. Great in- terest was manifest ; 30 or 40 men offered their machines and time, that those might get to the meetings that could not otherwise attend. At a result of the effort, some 240 persons confessed Christ at the meetings and the churches of the "group" have received 250 into their membership. The results are to be counted not alone in the accessions to church membership, but in the better com- munity feeling and quickened country life; the spirit of harmony and fellowship in the churches and throughout the countryside. There are those who always want to know the cost; the money paid for the tabernacle; THE RURAL EVANGEL 17 to Prof. Armstrong and his wife ; for ad- vertising, transportation and incidentals, to- taled $750, and a free-will offering of $725 was taken for Dr. Orr on the last day of the meetings. The money was raised easily and without any undue "pressure. The expense was insignificant compared with the results. I have written this with the thought that there might he in our experience at Kins- man a suggestion for other rural communi- ties. Of course, "It is not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord," but the Spirit's power is usually manifest through human instrumentalities, and our experience shows that it is possible to or- ganize in rural communities, channels through which this power may flow in large measure. The Protest of Deacon Moxley SAMUEL TILDEN LARKIN GIT up thar Moll, yuh triflin' critter !" Deacon Moxley gave the old mare a vicious jab with the end of the stick that served him in place of a whip. One could tell at a glance that Deacon Moxley was not in the humor to be lenient or to look with the least degree of allowance on the FARMING IN THE MODERN WAY shortcomings of any man or animal. There was a sour look on his face and a long-stand- ing frown on his brow. He was called Dea- con Moxley because of his iron disposition to- ward human failings and his appearance of extreme piety, and not because of any official relationship to the church. True, he did oc- cupy a place of authority in the church, but not the place of authority as he had done in former days. The church and the entire community, un- der the leadership of men of narrow ideas, had degenerated until all life and activity had gone. There had been no progress in any direction for the betterment of the social, religious or business affairs of the neighbor- hood. The business of the community was that of farming, and it was done according to custom and not according to the best method that science and experience could teach. In the village of Way- side there was a general store, the post-office, blacksmith shop, the church and a few strag- gling houses. It had often been designated as an unburied corpse. The social life consisted mainly of "howdy" and "goodt-bye," and the religious activities of a long, dry sermon on Sunday mornings twice a month. But a change had been in the minds of cer- tain people for quite a while. Any changge would be for the better. It could hardly be worse than the present state of affairs. The young men of the community and those of their elders who were in sympathy, had been reading and thinking and talking, and now IS THE RURAL EVANGEL were beginning to act. The Rev. Mr. Grey had appeared on the scene and they had found him to be a young man of ability along the lines they needed in reforming and re- building the community. Also he had an un- bounded ambition and enthusiasm in great contrast to all former ministers who had served the village church. He was the man they wanted and they found him willing to turn away from the attractions of the city and the larger town pastorate and try his hand on the country problem. Deacon Mox- ley entered his protest. He would have none of the new-fang- led notions put into the heads of the people, and he was "agin" the whole move. He argued and blustered until he got red in the face, but all in vain. Mr. Grey was called and other steps taken looking to a new state of affairs. Deacon Moxley drove into his lot, put up his horse and went stalking into the house. His daughter, Nell, was anxiously awaiting news of the board meeting. She had met Mr. Grey a number of times and was beginning to like him very much. Like the others of progressive tendencies, she wanted to see the community wake up and move out of the old rut, but she knew better than to advance these views to her father. She was an ex- ceedingly attractive girl, notwithstanding the poverty of her parent in that article. "Now we're in it up to our necks," exploded the deacon. "How is that, father?" "Why, them contrary, bull-headed critters wouldn't listen to my warnin', an' they're a goin' to ruin the church with their outlandish plans. I won't have nothin' to do with no sech doin's." Nell hid a smile behind her hand. She had the information she wanted, and she was glad. Several weeks went by, and they were weeks full of effort on the part of the new minister, seconded by the approval and the assistance of the men. There had been a men's mass meeting, attended by a large ma- jority of the men of the community, and they showed their interest by taking an active , ■ . . PEACE, SWEET PEACE part in discussion of plans and in organiza- tion for more effective neighborhood service. Some of the plansi decided upon in the meet- ing had as their ultimate end the establish- ing of a community library where the people could meet and enjoy a brief time in con- versation, obtain books and magazines for entertainment and profitable reading; a lec- ture course on agriculture that would help the men to be better farmers ; a series of en- tertainments to bring the people together in a social way ; organized effort looking to a more efficient school, better roads, improved farm conditions, etc. Then there was to be a young people's society, a song circle for the young people, a base ball club for the boys, and a debating society for the young men. There were services now every Sunday and a large increase in the attendance and interest of the people. The new work was thriving and the village putting on new life and the Whole 'country waking up to new duties and opportunities. Mr. Grey, on his rounds, called at the THE RURAL EVANGEL 19 home of Deacon Moxley, but he met with a poor reception in the person of the deacon. The cordial greeting that Nell gave him, how- ever, more than offset the hearing of the father. Deacon Moxley was not the kind to easily admit defeat, and he was deeply in- censed because the people of the entire coun- try had risen to the leadership of this young man. He saw the change for the better — a change that amounted almost to a revolution, but, like the old man who looked for the first time on a giraffe and swore that no such ani- mal existed, he would not admit the improved condition. Grey had found in Nell Moxley a congenial companion, they had soon become warm friends and, almost before they knew it, this had ripened into a deeper affection. They had seen much of each other in the young people's meetings and social gatherings. While her father did not approve of the new order of things and worked overtime in talking about it to whomever would listen, yet he did mot try to prevent his daughter from tak- ing an active part. He either could not or he was ashamed to try. It was grim humor that Grey should fall in love with the daugh- ter of his enemy, but his heart had spoken, and it was too late to withdraw. He had come into the community with an ambition to do certain things and to render an earnest service. Those things and more had been accomplished by his efforts and the co-opera- tion of the men of the church, and he had suc- ceeded also in winning his way to the heart and hand of the flower of the flock. And now there was before him an unpleasant thing that he had to do. He wanted Nell with all his heart, yet to have to ask Dea- con Moxley for her was not an agreeable task. But there was no other way, and he mustered the required courage and made the venture. Arriving at the Moxley farm, he found the deacon located on the porch and as cool as ever. He did not offer his hand nor ask his visitor to be seated ; but Grey took the seat without an invitation to do so, and im- mediately plunged into the subject for which he had come. "And now, Mr. Moxley, I want your daugh- ter for my wife," Grey concluded with much fervor of voice and manner. By the time he was through, the deacon was on his feet. The exnlosion had come. Shaking his fist in the face of the young niiniste>r, he said : "You've got gall to come here and ask me for my daughter ! Not only tear up the whole country with your doin's, but now yuh want her, do yuh? Well, I'll give yuh to understand, sir, that I don't approve of your ways of carryin' on the work — not by a jug full do I!" Grey was also on his feet. "Mv. Moxley," he said, "I don't care a rap whether you approve or don't approve of my work. We have succeeded without you, and we intend to go right on building up the church and making the church serve the community. We are right, and you know we are right, and now I want you to be a man and admit it." "I'll never do it, sir, never ! But if my daughter wants yuh an' yuh want her, then take her; but I'll be blamed if I'll admit anything." The next Sunday morning, to the surprise of everyone and of Grey in particular, Dea- con Moxley came in at the door of the church, strode up the aisle and took his seat near the front. He would admit nothing by word of mouth, but by action he had admit- ted. Grey looked across at Nell, and she gave him a smile that revealed the situa- tion. Then it was time to begin the service, and he had the congregation to stand and sing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." 20 THE RURAL EVANGEL Bringing in Outlying Sections CHAS. O. BEMIES WITHIN a radius of five miles of most country churches, whether they are located in a small town or in the open, there are usually a number of un- evangelized localities. They may possibly run a Sunday-school for a few months in occasional years, and have a preacher come out once a year or so. The preachers and churches have an idea that these people on the outskirts of the parish ought to go the distance to church if they really want to hear the Gospel or care anything) about church. And so they usually leave them alone without the Gospel. For various rea- sons these people will not go to the church. Let us to the winds with all the alleged reasons for the whys and wherefores of this deadlocked condition ! When all has been said, the solid rock responsibility rests with the church and the pastor nearest such un- evangelized districts. No city missionary so- ciety is going to seek out and evangelize these scattered localities. It is the business of each near-by church do her own evan- gelizing. For a church and pastor to sit down and expect the people to come from far and near because they "ought to," and put the blame on them is really evangelistic criminality on the part of the church. If the peopie do not come to the Gospel the Gospel must be taken to them. The Master said to the believers, "Go, preach," not to the unbelievers, "You must go where the be- lievers are." We are to seek out and save, to go to the indifferent and lost, not wait for them to come to us. The duty of the country churches toward their border people is plain. The initiative will not be taken by the border people, neither will it be taken by the church people. The first move must be taken by the rural pastor. He must see the dire need, study the situation, and with holy de- termination seek to supply that Gospel need. Right at this point the trouble usually arises, for the pastor will naturally think that he has no time, that he probably has two or more churches already to attend to, that he has to travel many miles each Sunday for his preaching appointments, and he can- not see how he can take on any more work, as he thinks he has enough already. But many a minister is unconsciously mistaken in the amount of Gospel work he can do. I find by practical experience and by the experience of others that a pastor is just ahout as tired as he thinks he is. If he expects to be tired he will be, but if he is in- spired every day by a large vision and its fulfillment he will be daily refreshed accord- ing to the Scripture promises. Expectancy plays a tremendous pairt in this matter of being tired. The average minister, if he thinks so, can take on more work with profit and inspiration to himself and to others, and get rid of that tired feeling. If the work for the border folks cannot be done on a Sunday there are five more days in the week, if he rests on Monday. Let him see his border people, arrange for a service on some week-day evening in the school house or at some other convenient point, a grange hall, at some house, or in the open air dur- ing the summer. One thing is sure, the people will come to hear him when he comes to them. But let not the preacher suppose that preaching will accomplish the result, for the people must be built up in Christian work if the fruits are to abide. Thererore he will organize a branch or a union Sun- day-school, suggest ways and means of suc- cessfully carrying it on during the whole year, and unobtrusively supervise it and en- courage and train the workers at the night meetings, and during his day visits, without necessarily being present at the Sunday- school itself. He will also organize a Young People's Society and be the active sponsor for it, training the young people how to do things and what to do, and how to make out programs for the meetings, being the un- official director and manager of the young people's growing activities, teaching them to be self-reliant. The young people will read- ily respond! and the work can be successfully built up, although the pastor may not be able to attend the meetings. The pastor can be an active supervisor of the work which will evangelize and develop the Chris- THE RURAL EVANGEL :i tian activities of these border people, and attach thetu to both himself and to the church. At these week-night meetings, held, jsay every alternate week at least, the pastor could profitably have a live song service, a bright fifteen minute conference on the local Sunday-school work, the same for the Young People's Society, and then preach with spirit for about twenty-five minutes, beginning and ending on time, with everything bright and concise, He is thus a director of the deA'eloping training of his border people. Two or three circling localities' can be developed, and co- operative work done, by means of occasional union services at the different points, socials, entertainments, picnics, interchange of work- ers, and in many other ways. Thus by de- veloping the border people into working sub- units the country pastor will discover him- self and his opportunities, freshen up his own life and mission, and greatly multiply himself by training leaders, and bringing in the outlying sections into an evangelized unity with himself and the church. Evangelizing Whole Communities MATTHEW B. MCNUTT ONE of the religious weeklies reported recently that there are 77,000,000 'of the 99,000,000 people of the United States that are not connected with any church. This means that only one in four of our citizens are identified with the church. The conditions of the spiritual life of a people cannot be definitely and accurately expressed in figures, 'tis true. Many folks outside the church may be Christians. On the other hand some church members may not be Christians. But leaving a large mar- gin in either case for the doubtful church members and for the Christians who have never made a public profession of their faith by uniting with the church, it is evi- dent from these figures that there are many millions of people in this country that are still not reached with the Gospel. Not alone do these figures bear testimony of this con- dition, but the prevalence of much crime, poverty and social unrest in our midst is unmistakable proof that the Gospel and the spirit of Christ have yet to come to multi- tudes of our people. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Now a whole community is evangelized when everybody in the community is con- stantly kept under the influences of the Gospel, — its teachings and its inspiration. A community is not evangelized when a min- ister goes to it and preaches once in a while. A community may even have a resident min- ister, or ministers, Avith preaching every Sunday twice or more times, and still not be evangelized. I find many such communi- ties on my travels, far too many. A great many people attend church only occasionally or not at all. The chances are they do not read or study the Bible in their homes. Nor do the plans of the church work include them. They are not reached at all by the present methods. Ministers in the larger towns say that there are very few farmers in their churches. Their statements are veri- fied by surveys that have been made, wnich reveal an unchurched zone around every large town. There are scores of people in every community that can truthfully say, "no man careth for my soul." It is no won- der, therefore, that these vast millions are still out of the church and many of them out of Christ. They are not evangelized. The difficulty lies largely in the lack of definite, systematic, evangelistic effort. The first step towards evangelizing whole communities is to get the boundary Hue of each community definitely fixed. Let a sur- vey be made in every community for the purpose of locating every family ami every man, woman and child. The survey should be more than a mere counting of beads. It should include an investigation of home and community influences and conditions. If there is more than one denomination in the community the survey should be made jointly by the several denominations present, or by 22 THE RURAL EVANGEL as many as will participate, and the facte obtained through, the investigation held in common and accessible to all. Let all the Christian people thus affiliating unite on a common plan for evangelizing the whole com- munity, the plan to be based on an intelli- gent knowledge of the needs and conditions obtaining. The plan should be continued through the years, changed, and improved, of course, from time to time to meet new needs and conditions. The nearest approach to evangelizing whole communities is when union revival meetings have been held for a short season, when earnest workers are sent out to visit all the homes and other means are employed to reach the whole people. These special seasons of refreshing never fail to bring in a harvest and to revive and strengthen those who engage in them. But this method must by no means be made a substitute for regu- lar, organized, week-by-week effort for the spread of the Gospel. This better work may begin with a very small group of workers, or even by a single person in the community, obsessed with the real evangelistic spirit, pastor or layman. The boundary of the community definitely fixed and all the people located and number- ed, let it be covered by prayer. In the mean- time see that there is a Bible or some por- tion of the Word in every home. By means of the Sunday-school endeavor from time to time to enlist everybody in the study of the Scriptures. This can be done through the Cradle Roll, the Home Department, and in other ways. A visiting committee composed of church officers and teachers and others should see that every person in the com- munity not interested is visited at least every week so as to hold up before them the Word of Life. Hold neighborhood prayer- meetings in the various homes. Seek to in- stall in each home a plan for daily Bible reading and prayer. Those already enlisted may do very effective calling by going two by two. Let appropriate recognition be made of every new member added to the church and Sunday-school and the event made an occasion of great rejoicing. An occasional roll call is wholesome, giving special promi- nence to all the members received within a given time. Use plenty of printers' ink in publishing glad tidings, extending invitations^ recording progress, etc. Occasional rallies are stimulating. Gospel meetings conducted by the workers should be held from time to time in school houses, groves, at cross roads, and everywhere else that a company of people can be assembled. Various forms of social service to the community may be used as effective means in getting in touch with folks and in winning them, such as a lyceum course, athletics, social gatherings, farmers institutes, community improvement clubs, etc. The idea is to bring the leaven of the Word in touch with that which needs to be leav- ened and to keep it in touch. The Spirit is the generating power, but the disciples must sow the seed in every heart and water and nurture till the harvest comes. God gives the increase. Earnest, faithful, definite, systematic, con- tinuous evangelistic effort for each and all of the people in a community cannot fail to bring large returns. C j, "'<■■; ■-- 'DOUBLE &UPPER" A GAME UNDER HEAVEN'S CANOPY fe0l ^ •fc ^/ds^ Jpy %% L. Y£r£^C vf^/if J^ jfppa mm Wx&\® ^*P^# 3iy fp0h| — a)^« A- ; J ijjajp' i \2 Ira^S