Report of Missouri Farmers' Week. 291 



The integrity of all religious institutions and of our national 

 existence itself is dependent upon the integrity of our rural popu- 

 lation and our rural institutions. Paganism in the country will 

 most surely bring paganism in the city. If we lose the rural church 

 we lose all, and along with religious decay and paganism will come 

 national decay and national extinction. 



The interest in the problem of the rural church is of very 

 recent origin, although the problem has existed for many years. 

 This interest is now nation wide, though it is by no means nation 

 deep. This interest is found, for the most part, among the lead- 

 ers in denominational affairs, but strange to say, it has not yet, 

 in any considerable degree, reached the rural churches. 



Practically without exception, it is insisted that the rehabili- 

 tation of rural life must precede the salvation of the rural church. 

 The call is for "better farming, better business and better living." 



It is also proposed that social, recreational and educational 

 functions be included in the program of the church's activities ; that 

 the church provide entertainment for the entire community, that it 

 ernploy the Y. M. C. A. program of recreation, and that it provide 

 instruction in scientific agriculture, domestic science, sanitation, and 

 other subjects of rural life betterment. 



The experts also suggest that a great central undenominational 

 church be substituted for the local denominational churches. This 

 will not solve the rural church problem nor will it meet the needs 

 of the present rural population. 



An undenominational church is not likely to be a New Testa- 

 ment Church, and without fidelity to the Scriptures it cannot enjoy 

 the favor of God. Outward evidences of prosperity are not certain 

 evidence of a New Testament Church. The spiritual extinction of 

 the church may go hand in hand with its physical extension. 



Without qualification, I insist that the rural church shall find 

 its salvation, not in supplying the material, but rather in supply- 

 ing the spiritual needs of the people whom it seeks to serve. The 

 rural church must keep close to the Gospel and close to the ground 

 if it would fill the mission for which it was designed. 



Until recent years the rural church has been a great soul-win- 

 ning institution, now it has professions of faith. We are having 

 frequent accessions to membership, but they are adding but little 

 to the spiritual power and working force of the church ; we are in 

 so much haste in our soul winning that we try to land our converts 

 with one jerk of the arm, and consequently they are seldom con- 



