758 THE RURAL COMMUNITY 



The Ethical and Religious Problem 



Wide generalizations as to the exact moral situation in the rural 

 community are impossible. Conditions have not been adequately 

 studied. It is probably safe to say that the country environment is 

 extremely favorable for pure family life, for temperance, and for 

 bodily and mental health. To picture the country a paradise is, 

 however, mere silliness. There are in the country, as elsewhere, 

 evidences of vulgarity in language, of coarseness in thought, of social 

 impurity, of dishonesty in business. There is room in the country 

 for all the ethical teaching that can be given. 



Nor is it easy to discuss the country church question. Condi- 

 tions vary in different parts of the Union, and no careful study 

 has been made of the problem. As a general proposition it may be 

 said that there are too many churches in the country, and that these 

 are illy supported. Consequently, they have in many cases inferior 

 ministers. Sectarianism is probably more divisive than in the city, 

 not only because of the natural conservatism of the people and a 

 natural disinclination to change their views, but because sectarian 

 quarrels are perhaps more easily fomented and less easily harmonized 

 than anywhere else. Moreover, in the city a person can usually find 

 a denomination to his Hiving. In the country, even with the present 

 overchurched condition, this is difficult. 



The ideal solution of the country church problem is to have in 

 each rural community one strong church adequately supported, 

 properly equipped, ministered to by an able man-- a church which 

 leads in community service. The path to the realization of such an 

 ideal is rough and thorny. Church federation, however, promises 

 large results in this direction and should be especially encouraged. 



Whatever outward form the solution of the country church question 

 may take, there seem to be several general principles involved in a 

 satisfactory attempt to meet the issue. In the first place, the country 

 church offers a problem by itself, socially considered. Methods suc- 

 cessful in the city may not succeed in the country. The country 

 church question must then be studied thoroughly and on the ground. 



Again, the same principle of financial aid to be utilized in the 

 case of the schools must be invoked here. The wealth of the whole 

 church must contribute to the support of the church everywhere. 

 The strong must help the weak. The city must help the country. 

 But this aid must be given by cooperation, not by condescension. 

 The demand cannot be met by home missionary effort nor by church- 

 building contributions; the principle goes far deeper than that. 

 Some device must be secured which binds together the whole church, 

 along denominational lines if must be, for a full development of 

 church work in every community in the land. 



