36 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



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. Conditions 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 divi- 

 sive 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 any- 

 where else. Moreover, in the city a person can 

 usually find a denomination to his liking. 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 



