American Agriculturist 
THE FARM PAPER THAT PRINTS THE FARM NEWS 
“Agriculture is the Most Healthful, Most Useful and Most Noble Employment of Man .”—Washington 
Reg. U. S. Pap Off. Established 1842 
Volume 113 For the Week Ending April 12, 1924 Number 15 
A Rural Church That Made Good—But 
What Are Country Folk Going to Do for Such Service in the Future ? 
O VER 125 years ago, when these fertile fields 
and broad farmlands were an unbroken 
wilderness, when in the whole country 
there were only three banks and seventy- 
five post offices, our pioneer forefathers, driving 
their ox teams, climbed the hills of this fair 
township leaving the lowlands to the dreaded 
malaria and fevers. 
With axe in hand, they hewed out for them¬ 
selves, homes, built their log-cabins, and fitted 
their fields for us, their descendants. 
Almost from the first they longed for a 
church, and when Jonathan Edwards in 
his journeying came near them, how 
glad they were of his help in founding a 
church to worship in. A small num¬ 
ber signed the Confession of Faith. 
But the colony grew in numbers and 
when in one year from that time they 
met again, one hundred and nineteen 
people signed the necessary paper. 
Among the first ministers called was 
one w 7 ho came for a salary of $250 a 
year, one half in cash, the rest in 
produce. The church, a frame build¬ 
ing, was erected, but no way of 
heating it was provided. Think of 
that, we who are so comfortable in our 
furnace-heated churches. I have heard 
my grandmother tell of one minister 
who in the cold winter months used to 
preach with his striped mittens on his 
hands, to keep them warm. 
One minister, a graduate of Yale 
College, was called, preached in this 
church for twenty-five years and died 
in the harness. His body lies in 
“God’s Acre” back of the church, 
covered by a flat tablet erected by his 
affectionate church. I quote only a 
part of the inscription, engraved upon 
it: “In the pastor's office, he was 
watchful and diligent, an impartial 
inquirer after the Truth, an able 
defender of the Christian Faith and an 
example to the flock.” 
Would that we in this day and age 
could have such words printed over us. 
During his twenty-five years’ pastorate 
he baptized 390, married 120 couples, 
and attended 427 funerals. After him 
came other ministers and we that sigh 
for the“ good old times ” might not wish 
them back, if we followed the fortunes 
of this church, in its passage down through they ears. 
Many were the dissensions in the church. For 
certain offences the member was called before the 
church. One time a brother was called because 
he threw a plate of butter at his wife, but on 
inquiring into the matter, it was found the plate 
was a mistake, he meant only to throw the butter! 
This church building in later years was burned, 
but the members were not discouraged and 
gathered together and put up a new building, the 
one that now stands. As the years rolled on, 
various preachers were called, came and went, 
and others took their places. Families moved 
away, foreign-born moved in, and the church 
membership waxed and waned. Yet the flicker 
of divine light, lit by Jonathan Edwards, now 
over 100 years before, never entirely died out. 
By SARAH H. ROBERTS; 
The “Faithful Few” ever ready to uphold the 
weak, with their prayers and willing hands, 
kindled ever anew the flame upon the altar. 
Never yet had the church doors been closed; even 
the times between as the ministers came and 
went, services were held, and the church kept 
open. I am sure the dear Lord has a reward 
ready for these, His people. 
Who can measure the influence upon a community of an institution like 
this? Are we losing this influence or getting it in another way? 
There came at last a time when the interest 
seemed low 7 and even the faithful wandered. 
Then there moved into the community a woman 
who was a born leader and organizer,, eager to do 
something that counted. The thought came to 
her of an “Old Home Day” for the old church, so 
far and near the invitations were sent out and back 
to the “Old Home Day” they came, lawyers and 
bankers, doctors and ministers, and those whom 
Lincoln said “the Lord loved.” How they all 
enjoyed it. 
The next year this woman, this leader, said: 
“ Let us make a fair of it, and bring in your first 
fruits and your fancy sewing, etc.” This was 
done and all in one room they met. At one end 
of the hall w 7 ere tables of fancy goods, baked 
goods, and homemade candy; at the other end 
in coops cackled and crowed a few choice fowls. 
That was sixteen years ago, but from that small 
beginning has been born a “church community 
fair,” clean in character, with no races or betting 
games, nothing to be hidden or ashamed of. The 
fair is held two days in the early fall. For miles 
around the farmers come and bring their cows, 
their calves, their fine horses and poultry. The 
little poultry house sometimes overflows. The 
pets are there, rabbits, funny white mice, even 
the house cat with her kittens. 
And the fancy work, the display is 
wonderful. Then the canned goods, 
how they make your mouth water 
just to look at them. The vegetables, 
luscious fruits, and the grains; the 
lunch counter, the country store and 
the far-famed country dinners served 
at noon. Even the Better Baby 
Contest, presided over by six doctors. 
Fifty babies were examined last year, 
undressed, weighed, and measured and 
looked over for defects, and given a 
percentage according as they passed. 
Then there is a baseball game far 
enough away for safety first. A 
speaker for the day, community sing¬ 
ing, with a first class leader, a band, 
piano playing and outdoor singing. 
And around you and on each side, 
friend greeting friend. 
Does it pay financially? Oh yes, it 
does. We do not have State aid as 
most fairs, bi?t its profits, have never 
been very large, because the fair has 
been most generous in the matter of 
prizes; and while it has taken in up in 
the thousands, it has never cleared 
more than $600 or $700. 
With the money it has made great 
improvements in the church, parsonage 
and grounds. It owns five buildings 
besides the church, parsonage and hall, 
has built a large horse shed all en¬ 
closed, costing $1200 or so, and every¬ 
thing is free and clear of debt. 
So much for the social side of the 
church. Now here is this church 
founded by that most excellent man of 
God, Jonathan Edwards, brought on 
up through the years by true and 
Godly men and women, upheld by the 
prayers of the faithful; but, with this 
background, this church finds it hard 
to secure a pastor. To be sure, there are incon¬ 
veniences, some that cannot be overcome at 
present. Almost all of the people of the 
community labor under these same disadvantages. 
Electricity has not yet found its way upon this 
hill-top. The beautiful scenery, the health-giving 
air, the song of birds, and rest and freedom from 
the noise and dust of the city, are not enough 
it would seem to outweigh the disadvantages. 
Does no one love the country folks or care 
whether they have any one to baptize their 
babies, or biiry their dead, to mourn with them 
in their sorrow, or rejoice w 7 ith them? Cannot 
a minister be found who will imagine we are as 
needy as the heathen, and so cross the sea of 
inconveniences and come over into Macedonia 
and help us ? 
