294 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



The rural church needs boys. The Lord's people must find 

 some way to keep their boys on the farm. The boy who in youth 

 is "worked out" for his father's gain, will, in manhood, "strike 

 out" for his own. He must be given a square deal. 



Our rural churches are, almost without exception, greatly in 

 need of better and more serviceable houses, with Bible school and 

 lecture rooms, better lighting and heating plants, better seats, mora 

 song books, and by all means better care of the church building and 

 premises. 



A women's m.eeting, promoted by the v/omen of the church for 

 all the women of the community, can be made to serve the church 

 and the community in many ways. These meetings may combine 

 social, educational and devotional features. Missions, benevolences, 

 temperance, child welfare, good literature ard other matters of 

 material and religious concern may properly have their considera- 

 tion and support. 



The rural church can well afford to promote an occasional sing- 

 ing school. The old-fashioned singing school can be made to con- 

 tribute greatly to its prosperity. 



Everywhere there is need of a sustained policy of scriptural 

 discipline in the fear of God and without the fear of man. The 

 church, which is the body of Christ, like Lazarus is full of sores; 

 its health is impaired, its progress is impeded and its strength is 

 gone. Without discipline there will be no restoration. The opera- 

 tion may be severe but the patient will survive, and the remnant 

 that is saved will enjoy the favor of God and the respect of man. 



Good roads may be of great service to the rural church. From 

 the Missouri State Board of Agriculture Bulletin of the Highway 

 Department (May, 1912), I quote the following: "All business 

 and all classes of property are more or less affected by road con- 

 ditions. The question of good roads is, therefore, at the present 

 time, one of the most vital with which he have to deal. There are 

 churches which, in some seasons, are almost abandoned because of 

 bad conditions of the roads. Good roads may not be the whole 

 solution for prosperity and happiness of country life, but they are 

 a part of it — and a very necessary and important part of it." 



The rural church may properly encourage some social and 

 recreational gatherings. The Lord's people in the rural community 

 are not meeting their obligations to themselves, to the young people, 

 and to the neighborhood generally, unless they provide some social 

 and recreational gatherings for all. The Lord's people must 



