THE COUNTRY CHURCH 435 



part of the state or from still farther west. These are pro- 

 gressive, but in applying the methods of farming to which they 

 have been accustomed under different conditions they sometimes 

 fail. They have a fairly good centralized school and desire to 

 have good educational facilities. Little is done to encourage the 

 social life of the community, nothing for the promotion of scien- 

 tific agriculture or to promote the general welfare of the com- 

 munity outside of what little is done in the school. Formerly it 

 was the custom to have at least one resident pastor in the com- 

 munity, but for ten years or more they have had none. There 

 are three churches, the Methodist Episcopal with forty-eight, the 

 Disciples with forty-three families, represented in their member- 

 ship, and a Baptist Church with a membership of only three, but 

 holding a Sunday School of considerable size. In this township 

 there are forty vacant houses. Large numbers of the farms are 

 very imperfectly cultivated, yet it is said by an agricultural ex- 

 pert that drainage and scientific farming will greatly add to the 

 production and the wealth of the township. 



THE GENOA PARISH, WALWORTH COUNTY * 



REV. A. PH. KREMER 



THERE can be no doubt of the fact that a closer union of the 

 country population will not only make life in the country more 

 attractive, but will also stimulate mental development and pro- 

 mote Christian charity. 



From the standpoint of mental and moral advancement, the 

 country church is the most prominent factor in uniting people 

 whose homes arc often miles apart. By reuniting them, it brings 

 them into closer contact with one another, thereby creating social 

 life of a high standard and fostering the social intercourse so 

 necessary to the average man. 



Let me say now that I consider it a great misfortune that 

 the members of a parish should be brought together only for the 

 purpose of raising money for church purposes. There should be 

 gatherings whose object is not replenishing the church treasury. 



i Adapted from Third Annual TCeport of the Wisconsin Country Life 

 Conference, pp. 46-7, Univ. of Wis., Madison, Jan., 1913. 



