92 The Rural Church and the Young People 



communities which are latent with material life, 

 and there begin his labors in behalf of the higher 

 things into which all the elements of this typical 

 rural situation may be transformed. Just as fast 

 as men hear this divine call and heed it and take up 

 this work, so fast will our country life be recon- 

 structed and the best that is in our society become 

 gloriously transformed and everlastingly saved as a 

 heritage of the oncoming generations. And it is 

 evident that the rural minister, working through 

 the rural church, is the person to whom this divine call 

 may most naturally come. 



THE CHURCHES TOO NARROW 



Not a few of the country churches are too narrow 

 in their limitations, tending to chill out those who do 

 not happen to be adherents of the creed, and to 

 foster dissensions and hatred among neighbors. 

 And they are not touching in a vital way the lives 

 of country boys and girls. 



It will be agreed that the gospel of the Master of 

 men may be made so broad and inviting as to attract 

 all who have a spark of religion in their natures, 

 and that means practically every one in the commu- 

 nity. But there is no good reason why the rural 

 church should stand alone as such. It should and 

 can be made a social as well as a religious center for 

 the whole community. So, let there be constructed 

 a modern building with big windows, and several 



