THE PROBLEMS OF PROGRESS 39 



splendidly fitted, by the nature of his work and 

 by his position in the community, to co-operate 

 with earnest farmers for the social and economic, 

 as well as the moral and spiritual, upbuilding 

 of the farm community. But he must know 

 the farm problem. Here is an opportunity for 

 theological seminaries: let them make rural 

 sociology a required subject. And, better, here 

 is a magnificent field of labor for the right kind 

 of young men. The country pastorate may thus 

 prove to be, as it ought to be, a place of honor 

 and rare privilege. In any event, the country 

 church, to render its proper service, not alone 

 must minister to the individual soul, but must 

 throw itself into the struggle for rural betterment, 

 must help solve the farm problem. 



FEDERATION OF FORCES 



The suggestion that the country church should 

 ally itself with other agencies of rural progress 

 may be carried a step farther. Rural social 

 forces should be federated. The object of such 

 federation is to emphasize the real nature of the 

 farm problem, to interest many people in its 

 solution, and to secure the co-operation of the 

 various rural social agencies, each of which has 

 its sphere, but also its limitations. The method 



