16 ADDRESSES 



situated. The large number of churches in a given community is another mighty 

 problem awaiting a proper solution. That a given community is over churched 

 goes with the mentioning of the fact. One place known to the speaker has, in 

 two hundred square miles, (20 miles long by 10 miles wide) forty-six churches 

 and hardly any of them doing anything to forward the cause of the Master's 

 kingdom. This problem must and will be fought out. 



The rural schools are likewise undergoing transition. Depleted districts are 

 compelling the solution. The little "red school house" has passed into history 

 together with many other things dear to our hearts. The boys and girls of our 

 rural districts are demanding as good an education today as the boys and girls 

 in the city. That can best be accomplished by the centralization of our rural 

 schools. 



And the greatest battle might well be termed the battle of the soil. The 

 correct solution of this problem will, in a large manner, solve, all the rest. Many 

 of her fields and farms are depleted in fertility and power to produce. The 

 home life they once maintained has passed. The social life in many places a 

 thing of "the long ago." And all this because of a depleted soil which has been 

 robbed by an incompetent husbandman or a type of farmer that hitherto wrought 

 havoc on many Ohio farms. 



Having recounted some of the most important battles that are being fought 

 let us turn our attention to possibilities that are awaiting the state of Ohio. 

 That her possibilities lie in the correct solution of her battles is self-evident. 

 And the correct solution is centralization. 



Let me say to you, gentlemen, two things that I want you to forever 

 remember. (1) No people will ever fise higher than their religion. Religion 

 is the fountain-head from whence all might impulses flow, (2) Farming is to 

 enable a man to live and not to make a living. That vast numbers of men have 

 only farmed to make a living is evident from the large number of depleted and 

 abandoned farms. Our great aim therefore should be to keep alive our religious 

 interests as well as our farming interests. Let us endeavor to unify them. And 

 in seeking to unify the interests of religion and farming we work for the idea 

 of centralization. 



Our church life has undergone a rapid transition the last decade. It once 

 served well the community. The early -pastor visited among the homes, had prayer, 

 kissed the babies and served the church by serving the family group. The idea 

 of serving the community group had not dawned. His service to the community 

 was wholly through the family. But today the new idea has dawned. The 

 pastor serves the entire community. He renders his best service as he serves 

 the entire community. In other words it is not sufficient alone to have prayer, 

 some squaw talk and kiss the babies, but his interests lie in working for those 

 things that will bring the entire community to higher ideals. And that means to 

 endeavor to establish a community heart or ideal. Without doubt, gentlemen, 

 the establishment of a community ideal will work alike to the good of religion 

 and better farming. Are they not one and the same in a way. And the setting 

 up of a community ideal is what we mean by centralizing. 



Let us see how this community ideal works out. As a specific illustration 

 we will take the farmer and his apples. One farmer may take the blue and red 

 ribbon both at the county fair but the price of apples in his community remain 

 the same. However if it is a community ideal and business to raise good apples, 

 the best, the price of apples will be raised accordingly for the entire output can 

 be handled by a single buyer. (And right here is certainly a good application of 

 the Master's famous saying "Ye shall love your neighbor as yourself.") Hood 

 River apples from Oregon sell on the Ohio market for about three dollars a box 

 (bushel per box) and outsell our apples with three bushels in a barrel. Why? 



