FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 675 



dred subjects was introduced and another vote was taken. This time 

 nine-tenths voted to remain on the farm. They saw what the country 

 could do. 



One of our country churches introduced a lyceum course of several 

 numbers, each coming on a moonlight evening, and it was spiced a 

 bit by one or two home talent numbers. It was a great treat. And 

 probably for the first time in its history the old house rang with 

 laughter and applause. But who dares assert that the God of laugh- 

 ing children was displeased to see His children enjoying themselves? 



Most of us know of the plowing contests that some Illinois churches 

 put on, where the ladies prepare good meals while the men prepare a 

 most enjoyable appetite by trying, out new and old style plows. A 

 church in a plow contest! Sure! A church put it on, for farmers 

 plow, and why shouldn't a church gather men around a plow as well 

 as anywhere if she can get them there and increase their eiRciency 

 as tillers of the every-day Eden? 



Some others who believe that if it is a good thing to raise hogs it 

 cannot be a sin to listen to instructive lectures on hog cholera, its 

 cure, prevention, etc. Still others invite physicians to give lectures 

 on hygiene, sanitation, care of the teeth, etc And why not? Churches 

 teach that it is a sin to misuse the body and slow suicide to do so. 

 Then why not godly to learn how to prevent suicide. So the church 

 finds herself again. 



Of course the schools can and do teach much of this, but they by 

 no means can reach all who need it. The whole community needs it 

 and when the church serves that community in these ways it will have 

 in turn a response that will thrill and build her most wondrously. 



The biggest error on earth respecting the church is to believe that 

 she has no chance at everyday life, or rather nothing she can con- 

 tribute to such life. The church that cannot contribute to everyday 

 life can hardly be thought worthy of a place in any day of your life. 



But probably a greater possibility for the rural church is in her op- 

 portunity to provide, with the church as a center, a dependable inter- 

 est in good amusements and recreations. 



Some other seer said, "Show me a nation's songs and I'll tell you 

 her character." INIaybe. But you can say without fear of ever being 

 defeated in your argument, "As a people play so they are." 



Who is there in the country to provide amusements and recreation 

 for the young? Nobody. Who is best adapted to provide it? Proba- 

 bly nobody so far, but the church has the biggest opportunity of any- 

 body. 



It might savor of heresy and degeneracy to some old standpat fath- 

 ers to ask for a gymnasium in the new church basement, but to the 

 young it sounds like sense. And when, after seeing a house filled 

 with old and young, they ask "Why," the answer is, "The church has 

 helped these young people, now they help the church." 



For remember, if the church frowns on everything but the Bible 

 and the hymnal, most likely the young people will frown on even 

 these. What the country and country church needs is not to know 



