THE RURAL PROBLEM. 35 



disappearing for many years in rural circles of Nonconformity, and 



often there is an exchange of preachers, or some preachers take 



work in several bodies almost indiscrimmately. But there is 



lacking the essence of unity in organisation which would provide 



1 the numerical basis for work amongst the younger section of the 



' community. There are many congregations which consist almost 



; entirely of middle-aged and aged people, and some which consist 



1 entirely of these. The reason is partly that there are fewer young 



people in the village than formerly, but more because the churches 



have not been able to organise guOds, young people's societies, &c., 



which have done so much to keep urban churches together during 



recent years. 



It would be almost impossible to estimate the growth or decline 

 of religious influences in the villages. Moral conditions are 

 undoubtedly better than they were forty years ago, and many 

 religious abuses, especially in the Established Church, have dis- 

 appeared. Education in various forms has filtered through village 

 society and left it less barbaric than before. But when the elements 

 of future development are sought, the result is often disappointment, 

 sometimes dismay. The attendance of children at Sunday schools 

 of both Nonconformist and Established Churches, has been declinuig 

 in many parishes. This applies both to total numbers and to the 

 proportion of the children in the village of school age. Here and 

 there a strong and virile school may be found — usually because 

 of an exceptional leader or body of teachers. But on the whole 

 the schools are weak both in scholars and staff. And without 

 some changes another fifteen or twenty years will see the end of 

 many of the outposts of Nonconformity m villages. 



Meanwhile, there is little or nothing to substitute for the little 

 church. Specific, avowed free-thought is almost entirely unlcnown 

 in the villages, but there is much iintrained questioning and thinking 

 on ethics, philosophy, and theology. The materials come through 

 the daily newspapers, or through some of the strange periodicals 

 which may be found in the village homes, but much comes direct 

 from Biblical sources — some of the keenest critics of which can 

 be found by village gates and firesides. There is, however, nothing 

 to focus this, or to give it vent or direction, and most of it 

 merely ends in thought. 



But if any revival of village life is to be secured it must rest on 

 a revival of intellectual vigour and spiritual interest, and on a vast 

 growth of free association for mutual support and assistance in the 

 pursuit of ideals. To name only one instance, the growth of the 

 co-operative movement almost entirely depends upon the develop- 

 ment of thought and sentiment of practically religious quality and 

 intensity. The farmer cannot evoke the best services of labour 



I with out studying human qualities, besides paying attention to 

 economic interest. And when the labourers aspire to gain know- 

 ledge, to seek variety and richness of life, thej' find that without 

 association they are thrown back upon the thin and unsatisfying 



