356 PRINCIPLES OF RURAL ECONOMICS 



opportunity for real service outside the field of agricultural pro- 

 duction. The organizations which can supply the farmer and 

 his family with an agreeable social life will supply one of the 

 greatest needs of rural people and will deserve their support. 

 If the church can do this, there need be no rival organization 

 spring up to divide the loyalty and support of the people. If the 

 church does not do it, some other organization will. The need 

 is too great to be left unsatisfied, and will create the means 

 for its own satisfaction. 



In order that the country church may contribute its share 

 toward supplying opportunities for a wholesome and agreeable 

 social life, it is not necessary that it undertake an elaborate pro- 

 gram of entertainments, concerts, gymnastic classes, etc., though 

 all these things are good in their places. One thing, and only 

 one thing, is essential, though it is sometimes difficult to attain 

 and is always capable of infinite variation. It is essential that 

 people with a common interest should occasionally be brought 

 together, that is, within speaking distance of one another. If 

 that can be done, social life will take care of itself. But it is not 

 always easy to find a common interest. In some times and places 

 theological speculation, in others political or scientific specula- 

 tion, has so occupied men's minds as to give them an all-absorb- 

 ing theme of common interest. When they came together their 

 common interests made them agreeable company for one another 

 and gave them ample opportunity for high converse on great 

 themes. Where there is no common and absorbing interest of 

 this kind something must be found or created, otherwise con- 

 versation will revolve interminably around such themes as the 

 weather and crops. 



But it is not at all necessary that conversation should center 

 in speculative themes, either theological, political, or scientific. 

 Problems of parish or neighborhood economy, of rural beauti- 

 fication, are large enough to occupy the time and attention of 



