Show mm CHURCH AS ala A SOCIAL CENTE A broader sphere for Religion New field for the rural church 0 r ter radford lecturer national farmers union the social duty of tho the rural church ie Is as much a part of its obligations as its spiritual side in expressing its social interest the modern rural church docs does not hesitate to claim that it Ts expressing a truo true religious instinct and tho the old time idea that the social instincts should be starved while the spiritual nature was aa over fed with solid theological food ie Is fast giving way to a broader interpretation of the functions of true ri ligion wo we take our place in tho the succession of those who have sought to mako make the world a fit habitation for the children of man inan when wo we seek to study and understand tho the social duty of the rural church the true christian ro labion ife essentially social its tenet of faith being loo and brotherhood and fellowship while following after righteousness the church must challenge and seek to reform that social order in which moral life is oppressed while whilo cherishing ideals of service the rural church which t bains the fullest measure of success Is that which enriches as many lives as il can touch and in no way can thu tho chueh come in as close contact with its members as through tho the avenue of social functions tho the country town and tho the rural community need a social center the church need offer no apology for its ambition to fill 1111 this need in the community it if an understanding of its mission brings this purpose into clear conscious consciousness nena the structure of a rural community is exceedingly complex it contains many social groups each of chich has its own center but tido are many localities which have but one church and although such a church cannot command the inter est of all tho the people it is relieved from the embarrassment of religiously divided communities social needs the average country boy bay and girl bave have very little opportunity ton for real enjoyment and have as a rule a vague conception of tho the meaning of pleasure and recreation it Is to fill this void in the lives lles of country youth that the rural ruml church has risen to the nece alty of providing entertainment as well as instruction to its membership among the young the children and young people of tho the church should meet when religion is not even mentioned it has been found safest west for them to meet frequently under the direction and care decare of the church to send them int into the world with no social training exposes them to grave perils ad aud to try to keep them out of the world orld with mith no social privileges la is sheer folly there lo 10 a a social nature to both old and young but the social requirements of the young are imperative tho the church must provide directly or indirectly some modern equivalent for the bus inq ing lee bee the quilting bee aud me the singing schools of the old days in one way or another the social instincts of our young people must have opportunity for expression which may taff the form ot of clubs parties picnics or other forms of amused am t one thing Is certain and that Is that tho the church cannot take away the dance the card party and the theatte unless it t can offer in its place a sat iff ing substitute in tho the form of more pleasing recreation universal instinct for play in providing for enjoyment the church uses ono pt pf the greatest meth moth by which human society has de association ly ILI never secure until it is to pleasurable in lay rilay the lu he aversion of or one lerson for another is overcome and the social mood Is fostered pl 1 is tho the chief educational agency in rural comman itie Itle sand in the play day of human childhood social sympathy and social habits are evolved As individuals come together in so social fal gatherings their viewpoint vie point is broadened their ideals are lifted and finally they bajo ecu fiti tute a cultured and refined society it Is plain therefore that the church which alas at a perfected perfecto d society must use in a refined and ex alt edway altce way the essential factors la social evolution and must avail itself of the universal instinct for play if the church surrounds idelt with social functions which appeal to tho the young among lie its it will fill fin a largo part of the lamentable gap gai in rural pleasures and will reap lio lie richest roburd by promoting a higher and better typo of manhood and v womanhood |