240 KURAL LIFE IN CANADA 



ISTorthern Baptist Convention has taken significant 

 action ; that other denominations — the Disciples of 

 Christ, the Society of Friends, the Christian Church, 

 the United Presbyterian Church — are partially organ- 

 ized, with steady volunteer service; and that half a 

 score of additional denominations are in process of or- 

 ganization in the interests of the country church and 

 rural life. 



The Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in 

 America is becoming the central directing agency of the 

 churches in the country life movement. This Council, 

 formed in 1908, represents the leading Protestant de- 

 nominations of the United States. It is a force to be 

 reckoned with in every outstanding moral and social 

 question. The Council has decided, after wide corres- 

 pondence, that there is a great call for interdenomina- 

 tional work in the rural movement, and has under con- 

 sideration far-reaching plans. Meanwhile the Council 

 has taken various steps in co-ordinating the work. A 

 directory of over two thousand of the organizations 

 working at the problem has been prepared. A practical 

 programme for the rural community has been drawn up. 

 Information is being gathered upon what the theological 

 seminaries, the inter-church federations, the various de- 

 nominations, the home mission boards, the country life 

 commissions, the agricultural colleges, and the philan- 

 thropic associations, are doing to promote the interests 

 of rural life. 



All of the recent strong popular movements in the 

 churches are entering this field. The Young People's 

 Missionary Movement is actively engaged, and has pub- 

 lished an excellent handbook entitled " A Country Com- 

 munity Survey " as a guide in the investigation of con- 



^ 



