Show THE CHURCH S A CENTER A broader sphere for religion nw NIA field for the rural church by peter radford lecturer national ional formers farmers union the social duty of the rural chereb church Is as much a part of its obligations as its spiritual oldo in iii oppressing expressing its social interest tho the modern rural church does doea not hesitate heal hesi tatu to claim that it Is expressing a true religious in a blind and tho the old time mca dea that the social in instincts should be starved while tho the spiritual nature was overfed with solid theological food la Is fast giving way to a broader interpretation of the functions of true religion we take our place in tho succession of those who have sought to make the world a fit habitation for the children of f man mail when wo we seek to baudy and understand the social duty of the rural church the true christian ristian cb re aglon Is essentially social its tenets of 0 f faith being lovo love and brotherhood r and nd fellow fellowship while following after righteousness tho the church must muse challenge and seek to reform that social order in which moral life Is expressed while cherishing ideals of sor sonvico vico the rural church which attains t the fullest measure of success Is that which enriches as many lives cis as it can touch and in no way can tho the church come in as close contact with its members as through the avenue of social functions the country town and the rural community need a social center the church need offer no apology for its am ambition bitten to oil this need in the community it if an understanding of its mission brings this purpose into clear consciousness the structure of a yural rural community is exceedingly complex it contains many social groups each of which has its own center but there aro are many localities which have but one church and although such a 0 church cannot command the inter ost eat ot of all the people it to la relieved from the embarrassment ot of religiously divided communities social needs imperative the average country boy and girl havo have very little opportunity for real enjoyment and have as a rule a vague conception of the meaning ot of pleasure and recreation it Is to fill this vold void in the lives of country youth that the rural church has risen to the necessity of providing entertain mont ment as well as instruction to its membership among the young tho children and young people of the church should meet when religion Is not oven even mentioned it has been found safest for them to meet frequently under the direction and care of the church to send thew them into the tha world with no social training exposes there them to grave perils and an d to try to keep keel them out of the world with no social privileges to Is sheer folly there to Is a social nature to both old and gouig but the social requirements ot of tho the young aro are imperative the church must provide directly or indirectly some modern equivalent for the husking bee the quilting bee and the ho singing schools of the old days in one way or another the social instincts of our young people must haye have opportunity for expression which may take the form of clubs parties plo wes or other forms of amusement one thing la Is certain and that is that the church cannot take away the dance the card party and the theatre unless it can offer in its place a satisfying substitute in the form of more pleasing recreation universal Ing instinct for play in providing for or enjoyment the church uses one of the greatest methods by which human society has developed ve loped association Is never until it to la pleasurable in play the instinctive 1 ax aversion erston of one person tor for another Is overcome and the social mood to la fostered play Is the chief educational agency in rural com common mull atles and in the play day of human childhood social sympathy and social habits ale are evolved As individuals come together in social gatherings gatherl nga choir viewpoint to la broadened their ideals aro lifted and finally thuy they can con a cultured and refined society it la Is plain therefore that the church which alms at a perfected so ao lety clety must use in a refined and exalted way the essential factors in social evolution and must avail itself of the universal instinct tor for play it if tho the church surrounds itself with social functions which appeal to tho young among its membership it will fill a largo large part of tho the lamentable lamont ablo gap gal in rural pleasures and will reap the richest reward by promoting a higher and better belter typo type ot manhood and womanhood |