manner as with the budgets of the white churches and schools, the 

 colored schools cost $2.86 each per day in use and the colored churches, 

 $5.54. 



RELIGIOUS STATUS 



In its general religious status Montgomery County is above the 

 average. Church facilities are more than ample. On the side of the 

 people it should be said that they support their churches generously. 

 While only about a third of the population are on the church rolls as 

 members, there is little or no antagonism to religion or to the church. 

 The churches are sympathetically regarded. 



The church as an institution enjoys better than ordinarily good health. 

 There is, however, as yet no large vision of a social ministry for the 

 church. There is very slight contact with the practical daily problems 

 of the people and very little attempt to serve them aside from the usual 

 churchly ministrations. Denominational lines are still closely main- 

 tained, in many instances to the decided detriment both of church and 

 people. 



To the candid observer it would seem that the religious life of the 

 county lacks \'irility. It is one thing to be sympathetic toward the 

 church and quite another thing to be aggressively religious in every day 

 life. It is in this lack of definite contact between religion and life that 

 Montgomery County is weakest. This can be remedied best by the 

 reconstruction of church work along such lines that the churches which 

 are not needed shall be eliminated and the churches that remain made 

 definite community centers, aiming to serve their people in ever>'thing 

 that effects their prosperity and w^ell-being. 



The chart " Facing the Church Problem " (opposite page) calls attention 

 to certain elements in this condition. The church is here showTi to be 

 weakest at the very point at which society is weakest. It is obvious 

 that there is a great field here in which the church may work. It has a 

 logical place to fill in the lives of these communities. It is equally 

 obvious that the force is potentially adequate to the task, but the churches 

 lack the machinery for their greatest work and they lack also the motive 

 and vision. 



SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS 



By the Hon. Willet M. Hays 



Assistant Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture 



Montgomery County, though one of our oldest counties, needs develop- 

 ment along economic lines. The very commendable movement for the 

 improvement of its several hundred miles of dirt road and the macadamiz- 

 ing of its leading roads should be encouraged by everybody. It needs 



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