ORGANIZING THE COMMUNITY 181 



many communities have a neighborhood or community 

 house, but every community has at least one church; 

 so that in advocating this sort of program, we are 

 really simply making use of existing buildings and 

 agencies as community centers, except that we set the 

 community house (which, by the way, may be some ex- 

 isting building in the community) as something to 

 strive for. 



Let us get firmly fixed the thought that the mere 

 enthusiasm for a community center is not necessarily 

 good in itself. What we want is something that brings 

 the community together, that gives the community in- 

 terests a hearthstone, as it were, a building which will 

 be the concern and practical expression of community 

 interests. We find at least four main interests in 

 every community. 



The community working. 

 The community learning. 

 The community playing. 

 The community worshiping. 



It would seem natural and fitting that each one of 

 these interests should have its particular building or 

 center. But if the people of the community think it 

 desirable and experience proves that it is practicable, 

 all of these interests can be brought together in one 

 place. The question whether a community center shall 

 be the schoolhouse or something else or several build- 

 ings, is purely a practicable question for each commun- 

 ity to settle. But the fundamental principle is that 

 each of these main interests of the community shall 

 have an abiding place, and shall " head up," as it were, 

 in permanent headquarters. 



