176 CHAPTERS IN RURAL PROGRESS 



of the principles and significance of modern 

 agricultural science, an understanding of the 

 history, status, and needs of rural and agricul- 

 tural education, an appreciation of and sympa- 

 thy for the co-operative movements among 

 farmers. Does one say, this is asking too much 

 of the burdened country pastor with his meager 

 salary and widespread parish? Let me ask 

 if the pastor has any other road to power except 

 to know? Moreover, the task is not so formi- 

 dable as first appears. The pastor is supposed to 

 be a trained student, and since he needs to 

 know these things only in broad lines, the ac- 

 quiring of them need not compel the midnight 

 oil. I would, however, urge that every pastor 

 have a course in general sociology, either in 

 college or in seminary, and if he has the slightest 

 intimation that his lines will be cast in country 

 places, that he add a course in rural sociology. 

 Inasmuch as the latter course is at present offered 

 in few academic institutions in the United States, 

 it might well be urged that brief courses in rural 

 sociology be offered at the many summer 

 schools. 



But sociological study by the pastor means 

 more than knowledge of the general principles of 

 sociology and of the problems of rural sociology; 



