Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 99 



ance and everything about the place reminded one of a man who 

 had gone away on a long journey and had forgotten to leave any 

 one in care of his abode. 



One of the elders, a farmer, had been preaching for three 

 years, or until he died. The last minister had resigned with 

 $400 back on his salary, which amount the church borrowed to 

 pay the debt. 



No one had united with the church for five years. A club- 

 house has been fitted up in the neighborhood to house an organi- 

 zation that called itself "The New Era Club," but whose chief 

 object and amusement turned out to be dancing, though its ori- 

 ginal promoters had hoped for it something better. Many of 

 the young people of the neighborhood, including church mem- 

 bers, were spending evenings there. The dancing element from 

 the surrounding towns had also begun to frequent the place. 



The only service the church attempted was to open the 

 doors on Sunday for preaching and Sunday school. Collections 

 were taken once a year each for missions and ministerial relief, 

 and this was practically the extent of the benevolent work. 



Two-thirds of the Sunday school teachers were members of 

 one family. The three elders were also trustees, and each taught 

 a class in the Sunday school. One of these elders was also a 

 Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school treasurer, church 

 treasurer and treasurer of benevolences. 



The condition of this church at that time was not excep- 

 tional. Other country churches were and are still in the same 

 plight. Some people were saying the country church has out- 

 lived its usefulness, and that was and is true of the old type of 

 country church. Many such have given up in despair and dis- 

 banded. Many others still exist at the same dying rate. What 

 was the matter with this country church? What is the matter 

 with that type of country church? My diagnosis of the case is, 

 simply, a lack of vision, and the want of adaptation to the new 

 needs. 



There was a time when preaching and an occasional pas- 

 toral visit was all that was demanded of the country parson, 

 and the people were thought to perform their part when they 

 went to church and paid the minister's salary. But it is not so 

 now. What was to be done? 



Jesus, the head of the church, once said, "I came not to be 

 ministered unto, but to minister." Believing, therefore, that 

 he intended his church to be a ministering church, I began at 



