THE COUNTRY CHURCH 447 



Program for the Local Church 



a-L Books, bulletins, and magazines on country life should be 

 put into public libraries and church libraries. 



(See lists furnished by Rural Department of Y. M. C. A.) 



2. Import lecturers on country life from the agricultural col- 

 leges, church societies, Y. M. C. A., etc. 



3. Have speakers on the subject of the rural problem, at church 

 coventions, conventions of young people's societies, etc . 



4. Hold county or district conferences of rural preachers to 

 study the rural problem. 



b-1. Promote the community survey. Use some good standard 

 survey such as that furnished by the Federal Council, by the 

 Presbyterian board (Dr. Wilson), by agricultural colleges. 



2. Encourage self -study by the community. 



3. Chart results in graphic form so that material can be pre- 

 served, and also made available for actual use. 



II. PREACHING AND WORSHIP 



Policy 



The country church should foster private and public worship 

 of God. Through its preaching, it should bring a ringing spir- 

 itual message to the community, and interpret the Gospel for the 

 uplift of motive and the transformation and development of 

 character. 



Program 



1. Preaching every Sunday in every field. 



2. Emphasis on congregational singing. 



3. Topics and texts with rural setting. 



4. Religious use of special days, like Harvest Home, Rural 

 Life Sundays, Thanksgiving, Farm Mother's Day, Easter, with 

 reference to rural environment. 



III. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION 



Policy 



The country church should develop definite means of religious 

 education, both of adults and of children, interpreting personal 



