Show THE CHURCH 5 I 1 A broader sphere for religion new field for the rural church by peter P eter radford il lecturer national farmers farmer union the social duty of the rural church Is as much a part of its obligations as its spiritual side bide in expressing its social interest the modern rural church does docs not hesitate to claim that it la Is expressing a true religious loua instinct and the old time idea that tho the social instincts should bo be starved while tho the spiritual nature was overfed with solid theological food Is fast giving way to a broader interpretation of the functions of true religion wo we take our place in tho the succession ot of those who have sought to make the world a alt habitation for the children of man when we seek to study and understand tho the social duty of the rural church the true christian chrIst lan religion is essentially social its tenets ot 0 faith being love and brotherhood and fellowship while following after righteousness the church must challenge and seek to reform that social order in which moral life Is expressed while cherishing ideals ot of service the rural church which t bains the fullest measure of success is that which enriches as many lives as it can touch and in no way can 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 c hurch church need offer no apology for its ambition to fill this need in the community it an understanding of its mission brings this purpose sj into clear consciousness the structure of a rural community is exceedingly complex it contains many social groups each of which has its own center but there are many localities which have but one church and although such a church cannot command the interest of all the people it Is re relieved from the embarrassment of religiously divided communities social needs imperative the average country boy and girl have very little opportunity tor 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 tile the rural church has risen to the necessity 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 for them to meet frequently under the direction and care of the church to send them into tho the world with no social training expends them to grave perils and to try to keep them out of the with no social privileges is sheer tolly folly there Is a social nature to both old and young but the social requirements of the young aru are imperative the church must provide directly or indirectly some modern equivalent tor for the husking bee the quilting bee and 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 take the form of clubs cluba parties picnics or other forms forma of amusement one thing Is certain and that Is that the church cannot take away the tha dance the card party and the theatre unless it carf cad offer in its place a satisfying substitute in the form of more pleasing recreation universal instinct for Play in providing fo for enjoyment the church uses one of the greatest methods by which human society has dove developed ve loped association is never secure until it to Is pleasurable in play the instinctive aversion of one person tor for another Is overcome and the social mood Is fostered play Is the chief educational agency in rural communities and alid in the play day of human childhood social sympathy and social habits are evolved As individuals come coma together in social gatherings their viewpoint Is broadened their ideals are lifted and finally they hey constitute a cultured and refined society it Is plain therefore that the church which alms at ft perfected society must use in a refined and exalted way the essential factors in social evolution and must avail itself of the universal instinct for play if the church surrounds lisel with social functions which appeal to tho the noung among Its membership it will fill a largo large part of the lamentable gap in rural pleasures and will reap tho the richest reward by promoting a higher and aad better type of manhood and womanhood I 1 4 |