diff options
Diffstat (limited to '33587.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 33587.txt | 5649 |
1 files changed, 5649 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/33587.txt b/33587.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f5a4a4b --- /dev/null +++ b/33587.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5649 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Six Thousand Country Churches, by Charles Otis Gill + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Six Thousand Country Churches + +Author: Charles Otis Gill + +Release Date: August 30, 2010 [EBook #33587] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIX THOUSAND COUNTRY CHURCHES *** + + + + +Produced by Tom Roch and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images produced by Core Historical Literature in Agriculture +(CHLA), Cornell University and The Internet Archives.) + + + + + + + + + +SIX THOUSAND COUNTRY CHURCHES + + + + + THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + NEW YORK . BOSTON . CHICAGO . DALLAS + ATLANTA . SAN FRANCISCO + + MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED + LONDON . BOMBAY . CALCUTTA + MELBOURNE + + THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. + TORONTO + + + + +[Illustration: THE COUNTRY CHURCHES OF OHIO] + + + + + SIX THOUSAND COUNTRY CHURCHES + + + BY + CHARLES OTIS GILL + AND + GIFFORD PINCHOT + + AUTHORS OF "THE COUNTRY CHURCH" + + + PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE FEDERAL COUNCIL + OF THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN AMERICA + + + New York + THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + 1919 + _All rights reserved_ + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1919 + BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + + Set up and electrotyped. Published November, 1919 + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + + PAGE + + _PART I_ CONDITIONS AND REMEDIES + + INTRODUCTION xiii + + CHAPTER + + I. HOW THE FACTS WERE GATHERED 3 + + II. THE RURAL CHURCH MAPS OF OHIO 5 + + III. SUMMARY OF RESULTS 8 + + Oversupply of Churches--The churches small and weak-- + Attendance--An absentee ministry--Divided effort of the + ministry--Short term of minister's service--Defective + overhead organization--Ministers' salaries--Educational + equipment of the minister. + + IV. WHERE CHURCH EFFICIENCY IS LOWEST 12 + + V. THE CHURCH IN THE EIGHTEEN COUNTIES 19 + + VI. A POLICY AND PROGRAM 40 + + 1. A better program--2. A better ministry--3. Better + support--4. Better acquaintance--5. Re-arrangement of + circuits--6. More resident ministers--7. Interchurch + cooperation--8. Community churches--9. Non-sectarian + support. + + VII. FEDERATED CHURCHES 59 + + 1. Greene Township--2. Aurora--3. Garrettsville--4. + Northfield--5. Federated churches in other states. + + VIII. OTHER PROGRESSIVE CHURCHES 75 + + 1. A church federation--2. Cooperation with other social + forces--3. Community service and Christian unity--4. + Christian unity by necessity--5. The church as a force + for righteousness--(a) Old Fort--(b) Lakeville. + + IX. AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION 88 + + + _PART II_ TABULAR SUMMARIES AND MAPS + + I. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE DENOMINATIONS 93 + + II. TABULAR SUMMARIES FOR THE STATE 110 + + Table I.--Population, average number of Persons and + Churches, and average number of Persons to a Church, + by Townships 111 + + Table II.--Churches classified according to the number + of their members 112 + + Table III.--Amount of Ministerial Service by Townships, + Villages, and Churches 114 + + Table IV.--Number of Churches in Villages and in the + Open Country 115 + + Table V.--Resident Ministers in Strictly Rural Townships + in the Open Country and in Villages 118 + + Table VI.--Terms of Service of Methodist Episcopal + Country Ministers, 1917 119 + + Table VII.--Average number of Persons to a Church in + 1170 Rural Townships 121 + + Table VIII.--Average number of Persons to a Church in + Rural Townships, Suburban Townships, and Cities 122 + + Table IX.--Salaries of Methodist Episcopal Country + Ministers, 1917 123 + + Table X.--Salaries of Country Ministers, United Brethren + in Christ, 1917 123 + + III. TABULAR SUMMARIES BY COUNTIES 124 + + + _PART III_ THE COUNTY MAPS + + EXPLANATORY NOTE 145 + + COUNTRY CHURCH MAPS OF THE EIGHTY-EIGHT COUNTIES OF OHIO 147 + + + APPENDIX + + ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERCHURCH COOPERATION OF THE OHIO + RURAL LIFE ASSOCIATION 235 + + + + +LIST OF MAPS + + + The Country Churches of Ohio _Frontispiece_ + + PAGE + + Map A. Where Conditions Demand Missionary Aid 26 + + Map 1. High Death Rates from Tuberculosis 27 + + Map 2. High Rates of Illegitimacy 28 + + Map 3. Where Illiteracy Abounds 29 + + Map 4. Distribution of Foreign Born Whites 30 + + Map 5. Excessive Over-Churching 31 + + Map 6. Churches many but Ministers Few 32 + + Map 7. Number of Persons to a Resident Minister 33 + + Map 8. Value of Farm Property in the Year 1910 34 + + Map 9. Increase in Value of Farm Property 35 + + Map 10. Rich Land and Poor Land 36 + + Map 11. Showing that in 317 or 27 per cent of + the Strictly Rural Townships no Church has a + Resident Minister 49 + + Map 12. Farms Operated by Tenants 84 + + Map 13. Farms Operated by Tenants 85 + + Map 14. Methodist Episcopal 96 + + Map 15. United Brethren in Christ 97 + + Map 16. Presbyterian 98 + + Map 17. Baptist 99 + + Map 18. Disciples of Christ 100 + + Map 19. Lutheran 101 + + Map 20. Catholic 102 + + Map 21. Christian 103 + + Map 22. Methodist Protestant 104 + + Map 23. Reformed 105 + + Map 24. Congregational 106 + + Map 25. Evangelical Association 107 + + Map 26. Villages and Cities 117 + + County Maps: + Adams 147 + Allen 148 + Ashland 149 + Ashtabula 150 + Athens 151 + Auglaize 152 + Belmont 153 + Brown 154 + Butler 155 + Carroll 156 + Champaign 157 + Clark 158 + Clermont 159 + Clinton 160 + Columbiana 161 + Coshocton 162 + Crawford 163 + Cuyahoga 164 + Darke 165 + Defiance 166 + Delaware 167 + Erie 168 + Fairfield 169 + Fayette 170 + Franklin 171 + Fulton 172 + Gallia 173 + Geauga 174 + Greene 175 + Guernsey 176 + Hamilton 177 + Hancock 178 + Hardin 179 + Harrison 180 + Henry 181 + Highland 182 + Hocking 183 + Holmes 184 + Huron 185 + Jackson 186 + Jefferson 187 + Knox 188 + Lake 189 + Lawrence 190 + Licking 191 + Logan 192 + Lorain 193 + Lucas 194 + Madison 195 + Mahoning 196 + Marion 197 + Medina 198 + Meigs 199 + Mercer 200 + Miami 201 + Monroe 202 + Montgomery 203 + Morgan 204 + Morrow 205 + Muskingum 206 + Noble 207 + Ottawa 208 + Paulding 209 + Perry 210 + Pickaway 211 + Pike 212 + Portage 213 + Preble 214 + Putnam 215 + Richland 216 + Ross 217 + Sandusky 218 + Scioto 219 + Seneca 220 + Shelby 221 + Stark 222 + Summit 223 + Trumbull 224 + Tuscarawas 225 + Union 226 + Van Wert 227 + Vinton 228 + Warren 229 + Washington 230 + Wayne 231 + Williams 232 + Wood 233 + Wyandot 234 + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +In 1913 Mr. Gill and I published, under the authority of the Federal +Council of the Churches of Christ in America, the results of an inquiry +into the condition of the country church in two typical counties--Windsor +County, Vermont, and Tompkins County, New York. The disclosure of the +conditions in these two counties and the conclusions to which they pointed +led to the creation of the Commission on Church and Country Life of the +Federal Council. Under the direction of the Commission, it was resolved to +extend the investigation of the country church to an entire State. For the +reasons given hereafter, the choice fell upon Ohio. + +For the plan whose execution and results are here set forth, Mr. Gill and +I are jointly responsible. It was submitted to, and revised and approved +by, the Commission on Church and Country Life, in whose name and under +whose direct supervision it was carried out. The field work was done +entirely by Mr. Gill or under his immediate direction as Secretary of the +Commission, and he also worked up in the office the result of his work in +the field. As in the case of "The Country Church," I am responsible for +the final revision of the manuscript for the press. It is now published +with the approval of the Commission on Church and Country Life, and as a +report of its work. + +In the introduction to "The Country Church," I said and I desire to +repeat,--"Mr. Gill's peculiar fitness for the work of this investigation +arises in part from his long and intimate personal acquaintance with the +problem of country life. For fifteen years he has been a country minister. +One of his tasks was to establish a church in a country community in +Vermont which had been without one for more than twenty years. When Mr. +Gill came to it, the moral and social laxity of the whole community was +flagrant. Disbelief in the existence of goodness appeared to be common, +public disapproval of indecency was timid or lacking, and religion was in +general disrepute. Not only was there no day of worship, but also no day +of rest. Life was mean, hard, small, selfish, and covetous. Land belonging +to the town was openly pillaged by the public officers who held it in +trust; real estate values were low; and among the respectable families +there was a general desire to sell their property and move away. + +Then a church was organized. The change which followed was swift, +striking, thorough, and enduring. The public property of the town, once a +source of graft and demoralization, became a public asset. The value of +real estate increased beyond all proportion to the general rise of land +values elsewhere. In the decade and a half which has elapsed since the +church began its work, boys and girls of a new type have been brought up. +The reputation of the village has been changed from bad to good, public +order has greatly improved, and the growth of the place as a summer resort +has begun. It is fair to say that the establishment of the church under +Mr. Gill began a new era in the history of the town." + +It was with this record of practical success in the country church, +supplemented by the very unusual experience as an investigator which he +acquired in collecting and analyzing the material for "The Country +Church," that Mr. Gill approached the task whose results are here set +down. The task of ascertaining with accuracy the conditions of the country +church in other portions of the United States still remains. The remedies +are yet to be applied. + +GIFFORD PINCHOT. + + Milford, Penna. + Aug. 26, 1918. + + + + +SIX THOUSAND COUNTRY CHURCHES + +PART I + +CONDITIONS AND REMEDIES + + + + +SIX THOUSAND COUNTRY CHURCHES + + + + +CHAPTER I + +HOW THE FACTS WERE GATHERED + + +The Commission on Church and Country Life of the Federal Council of the +Churches of Christ in America conducted the work whose results are +summarized in this book. Several thousand persons assisted in collecting +the data here given. Lists of churches were obtained from correspondents +in every township in Ohio, and township maps were sent to them for marking +the location of the churches. Ministers, clerks, and other officers of +churches, district superintendents, and other denominational leaders gave +indispensable information. + +The very important material gathered by the Ohio Rural Life Survey, +including country church maps of twelve counties and many data for +seventeen other counties, was placed at the disposal of the Commission. + +Invaluable assistance has been rendered by State, County, and Township +Sunday School Associations. In about half of the townships, officers of +the township associations supplied needed information. Miss Clara E. +Clemmer, Secretary of the County Association, gathered nearly all the data +for Preble County. The Rev. C. A. Spriggs, a Missionary of the American +Sunday School Union, furnished most of the facts used in making the map of +Pike County. + +In a few counties, superintendents of public schools either gave desired +information themselves, or supplied the names of others who did, and in +some cases the agricultural agents lent a hand. + +County atlases were consulted, and verifications and corrections were +obtained from many sources. The topographical maps issued by the United +States Geological Survey gave the locations of certain churches. The Year +Books of the various denominational bodies were in constant use for +verification and reference, as were the United States Census, the Ohio +Statistical Reports, and other Government documents. + +In the different sections of Ohio Mr. Gill made extensive investigations +on the ground, while large numbers of country ministers and church members +were consulted personally. Specific information has thus been collected in +nearly every township, while at country church institutes and conferences +in various parts of the State, many facts were secured from the +discussions on rural church conditions. Not only has information, +therefore, been received from very many people intimately associated with +the churches of rural Ohio, but also, and very widely, from personal +observation on the field itself. + +In spite of all the care that could be taken, after the work on the +township maps was thought to be finished, a few other churches were +discovered. If, in the future, still other churches should be found which +are not on the maps, the number of them will be insignificant. Their +discovery will doubtless in no wise affect the conclusions which have been +drawn as to the country church situation in Ohio, nor their omission +impair the general usefulness of the maps. + +In the constructive work of the Commission and of the Ohio Rural Life +Association for rural church betterment, as well as in the survey, the +Ohio State University, under Dr. Thompson, has always given free and +valuable cooperation. + +For all this kind assistance the Commission and the Association are deeply +grateful, and here express their hearty thanks. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE RURAL CHURCH MAPS OF OHIO + + +In Part III of this volume are 88 country church maps, one for each county +in the State of Ohio. The making of these maps was part of a program +adopted in 1914 by the Commission on Church and Country Life of the +Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. It seemed to the +Commission that an attempt ought to be made to test the possibilities of +rural church improvement through interdenominational cooperation in some +one State. Ohio was chosen because of its geographical location, because +of the variety of its church conditions, and because in a number of its +counties a country church survey had already been made. This survey had +indicated a widespread need for the readjustment of church life to +community welfare in rural Ohio. + +It was therefore determined, if possible, to complete a series of maps for +the entire State which would summarize the facts. In dealing with so many +churches in so large an area, it was of course feasible to collect only a +very small number of facts concerning each church. Accordingly the facts +to be gathered were limited to the location of every rural church, its +denomination, its present membership, whether it is gaining or losing in +membership, whether it ordinarily has a resident pastor, and if not, what +part of a minister's service it receives. + +The collection of such facts was necessary, first, to impress upon the +church officials and others the actual urgency of the situation, and +second, to provide a basis for a workable policy of interchurch +cooperation and reciprocity in influencing or directing the redistribution +of ministers and churches. + +While the making of the church maps appeared to be the least amount of +preliminary work that would open the way for effective action, it was +evident that nothing adequate could be done for rural church betterment +without interdenominational, or undenominational, organization. Therefore, +when the branch office of the Commission on Church and Country Life was +opened in Columbus, Ohio, in August, 1914, at the same time the Ohio Rural +Life Association was formed to cooperate with the Commission in its work +in the State. Soon afterward a Committee on Interchurch Cooperation, +consisting of executives in charge of the country churches of eleven +denominations, was organized. The principles which it adopted to govern +its action mark a forward step of real importance. (See page 235.) + +The chief burden of making the church maps has rested upon the Commission +on Church and Country Life. Its paid executive and office force have done +the main part of the work, but valuable assistance has been rendered by +the Ohio Rural Life Association. Much of the work was done in its name. + +Incidentally, the cooperative work of these bodies has by no means been +confined to the making of surveys. Country Life Institutes have been held, +and an educational propaganda in the interest of the rural church has been +continuously carried on, with the result that in Ohio more than in any +other State has the country church gained ground in its command of public +interest. As a subject for addresses and discussion the country church has +a place in a large number of farmers' institutes, and in nearly all Sunday +school conventions, while during Farmers' Week at the State Agricultural +College, conferences on no other subject have attracted more people or +provoked more animated discussion. + +Inasmuch as the collecting of the data extended over a period of more than +three years, the maps do not all represent the exact situation at the same +moment. While they were being made some of the churches were being +redistributed in different circuits, and membership rolls were increasing +or decreasing. Since the map for their county was completed some churches +have federated, or their members have all united in a denominational +union church. But while the maps do not constitute a snap shot of the +entire State, the changes which have taken place are too few in any way to +invalidate the conclusions drawn. The total situation is indicated with +sufficient correctness. + +These maps should supply the indispensable basis for the readjustment that +is obviously required. We hope that the publishing of them will not only +register a stage of progress in the State of Ohio, but that in other +States also similar work will be undertaken, and that the forward movement +in rural church life will be strengthened and accelerated throughout the +nation. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +SUMMARY OF RESULTS + + +Ohio contains in its area of 41,060 square miles, some 1,388 townships. If +we exclude the townships in which the population is urban, those in which +there are villages of more than 2,500 inhabitants (the number set by the +United States Census as separating the country from the town), those which +contain parts of, or border on, large town or city parishes, there remain +1,170 townships which may be classed as strictly rural. These rural +townships have in all 6,060 churches and nearly 1,700,000 persons. Each of +them has on an average a population of 1,448 persons, with five churches, +or one church to every 280 persons. If we include with the strictly rural +townships the rural sections of townships not exclusively rural, there are +in Ohio no less than 6,642 country churches. + +As these facts would indicate, the country churches of Ohio for the most +part are small and weak. According to data gathered by the earlier survey +made under the direction of the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, the +churches whose membership is less than 100 as a rule do not prosper, and +the smaller the membership the greater the proportion of the churches +which are on the decline. In Ohio more than 4,500, or 66 per cent, of the +rural churches have a membership of 100 or less; more than 3,600, or 55 +per cent, have a membership of 75 or less; more than 2,400, or 37 per +cent, a membership of 50 or less. + +The membership in these country churches is distressingly small, but the +attendance is smaller still. The data available indicate that ordinarily +it is less than half the membership. + +In six churches taken at random, it was found that the figures ran as +follows: + + _Membership_ _Average attendance_ + 125 34 + 300 136 + 173 30 to 40 + 150 Less than 30 + 300 - 40 + ----- ----- + 1,048 270 + +In one township it is reported that the average attendance in each of its +eight churches is less than 25. + +One of the most striking facts is the shortage of resident ministers. +While a reasonable degree of interchurch cooperation should result in the +maintenance of a resident pastor in nearly every township, yet in 317, or +27 per cent, of the strictly rural townships, no church has a resident +pastor. (See Map 11, page 49.) More than 4,400, or about two-thirds, of +the churches in rural Ohio, and 39 per cent of the villages are without +resident ministers, while in the open country only 360, or 13 per cent, of +the 2,807 churches have resident pastors. + +The efforts of the ministers are so scattered over fields more or less +widely separated that much of their effectiveness is lost. (Consult the +county maps, pages 147-234.) More than 5,500 of the 6,642 country churches +are without the full time service of a minister; 3,755 have only one-third +or less of a minister's services; 2,500 have one-fourth or less; while +more than 750 have no regular service of a minister at all. A large number +of ministers have other occupations than the ministry. + +Moreover it is a rule of nearly universal application that ministers of +country churches in Ohio do not remain long enough in their parishes to +make effective service possible. According to the official records of the +conferences of the largest and doubtless one of the most efficient of the +denominations, in the fall of 1917, 48 per cent of its rural ministers +were about to begin their first year, and 74 per cent either their first +or second year of service in the fields to which they were appointed. Only +26 per cent had had a two years' acquaintance with their parishes, while +only 8 ministers, or scarcely more than 1 per cent, had served as long as +five years. This condition is no better in nearly all the other +denominations. + +Because of this, and also because the effort of the ministry is divided +among various and widely separated churches, the people who live in the +rural districts in Ohio receive too little pastoral service. The short +term also discourages the ministers from attempting to discover and meet +the needs of their communities and from formulating and carrying out any +adequate plans of community service. The churches, as a rule, are not +trained to expect such service, nor the ministers to render it. + +In certain extensive areas in Ohio the country church seems to have broken +down. (See Chapters IV and V.) In regions where it has been active for a +century it has failed and is now failing to dispel ignorance and +superstition, to prevent the spread of vice and disease, and to check the +increasing production of undeveloped and abnormal individuals. Because of +the lack of an organization to cooerdinate the work of the denominations, +and to study the field as a whole, no one has been conscious of +responsibility for such failure. The conditions have not even been known +by many of the church officials who were responsible, and a situation has +been permitted to develop which threatens the welfare of the whole State +and demands the immediate redirection of the Church's missionary +activities. + +The pay of the country ministers in Ohio is small, the support of the +church meager. According to the records of the Conferences held in the +fall of 1917 the majority of the ministers (58 per cent) of the largest +denomination received less than $1,100 each, three-fourths (74.6 per cent) +less than $1,200, while the average amount was $857 and free use of +parsonage. In the denomination with the second largest number of country +churches the average salary was only $787, or $680 and free use of +parsonage. + +Over considerable areas a large proportion of the ministers are +uneducated. Often they are illiterate and entirely unfitted to render +service acceptable to the more intelligent part of their people. In most +of the State, the standard of education for ministers is low. It is in +part due to the failure of an insufficiently educated ministry to +stimulate the intellectual life of the people, that from 1,500,000 to +2,000,000 people in the State have no public libraries. + +Unless a larger and stronger social and religious institution is created +in the country districts than is now found in the country church, the more +vigorous young people will for the most part leave the country, and an +inferior class will take their places on the farm. A process of reverse +selection will therefore set in which must result in the general +debasement of our rural population and ultimately of our nation as a +whole. As is well known, this process of decadence is already taking place +over very large areas in rural America. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WHERE CHURCH EFFICIENCY IS LOWEST + + +The facts summarized in the previous chapter show that in rural Ohio the +church as a whole is not adequately performing its great and difficult +task. It is equally evident that no institution could hope for a high +degree of success unless more progressive in method and administration. +Furthermore, unless the urban officials or directors in charge of rural +churches come to appreciate the fundamental importance of the country +church problem, address themselves more seriously to the task in hand, and +make really effective use of improved organization and available human and +material resources, the country church will continue to decline. While +there are very many successful churches, and many rural communities +socially, morally, and economically prosperous, failures occur in equally +large numbers. + +A most striking illustration of the churches' inefficiency may be found in +southern and southeastern Ohio. Here, in a region covering at least +eighteen counties, the failure of the churches may fairly be called +pathetic. These counties are Adams, Athens, Brown, Clermont, Gallia, +Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Pike, +Ross, Scioto, Vinton, and Washington. In this area, after more than a +hundred years of the work of the churches, the religious, social, and +economic welfare of the people are going down. Although the churches have +been here for more than a century, no normal type of organized religion is +really flourishing, while the only kind which, during the past fifteen +years, has been gaining ground, the cult of the Holy Rollers, is scarcely +better than that of a Dervish. The churches have failed and are failing to +dispel ignorance and superstition, to prevent the increase of vice, the +spread of disease, and the general moral and spiritual decadence of the +people. + +Most of the information concerning the Eighteen Counties, as for +convenience, this region is hereafter called, was derived from personal +investigation on the ground by Mr. Gill, from the testimony of two trained +investigators, and from interviews and correspondence with local +merchants, physicians, clergymen, school teachers, superintendents of +schools and churches, farmers, and Sunday school workers. Information +confirming what had already been received was found in the statistical +reports of the national and state governments. Some of the results of a +study of the reports of the Ohio Bureau of Vital Statistics and the United +States Census are given in Table A and in Maps A, and Maps 1 to 10, on +pages 26 to 36. + +In Map A the heavily shaded area indicates the Eighteen Counties included +in this region. Ten other counties bordering upon them are shaded more +lightly. Many communities in these ten bordering counties are influenced +by the migration of population from the Eighteen Counties. + +In no less than twelve out of the Eighteen Counties, the death rate from +tuberculosis is excessive. (See Map 1 and Table A, column 1.) Reports of +the Ohio Bureau of Vital Statistics for the years 1909, 1910, and 1911 +(the latest we could secure on this subject), give the average annual +deaths from this disease for 100,000 persons, as 125 for the whole State. +On Map 1, all counties are shaded whose rate exceeds not 125 only, but +145. Of the seventeen counties in the State whose death rate from +tuberculosis is 145 or over, all but five are in this region, and of the +five one is a bordering county. + +Outside this area and the bordering counties, the highest rate is in +Franklin, of which the city of Columbus is the county seat; but of the +Eighteen Counties, seven have a higher rate than Franklin. In Clermont +County it is 164, in Scioto 169, in Lawrence 172, in Ross 175, in Gallia +184, while in Pike it is no less than 216,--far larger than for any other +rural county in the State. In Hamilton County, in which is the city of +Cincinnati, and which is adjacent to Clermont County, the rate of 217 is +probably due to the large colored population. + +It will be observed, therefore, that in no less than two-thirds of the +Eighteen Counties the rate of death from this preventable disease is +excessively and indefensibly high. + +The number of illegitimate births in the Eighteen Counties is likewise +excessive. (See Map 2 and Table A, column 2, pages 28 and 37.) The rate +per 100,000 population for the State is 43.9. Of the 28 counties whose +rate is above the average, 19, or 68 per cent, are either in the Eighteen +Counties or the counties bordering upon them. No less than thirteen, or +more than two-thirds, of the Eighteen Counties have an excessive number of +illegitimate births. Outside this area and the bordering counties the +highest rate for any county is 61, but in ten of the Eighteen Counties it +is greater than this. Whereas the rate for the State is less than 44, in +Athens County it is 65, in Noble 67, in Scioto 73, in Gallia 76, in +Hocking and Monroe 78, in Ross 87, in Pike 89, in Lawrence no less than +113, while in Jackson it is 123, or the highest rate in the State. + +It will be noted that these figures cover the counties in which are the +large cities as well as the rural counties. But in Hamilton, containing +the city of Cincinnati, the rate is only 66, in Franklin, containing the +city of Columbus, it is 56, and in Cuyahoga, containing the city of +Cleveland, it is only 50. + +Illiteracy also, in the Eighteen Counties, is excessive. (See Map 3 and +column 3 of Table A.) The per cent of illiterate males of voting age for +the State in 1910 was 4.2. There are 29 counties in which that number was +exceeded. Of these, fourteen are among the Eighteen Counties, and five +border upon them. In Brown County, the percentage is 4.3, in Washington +and Noble 4.5, in Monroe 5.4, in Adams 6.9, in Athens and Ross 7.4, in +Scioto 7.7, in Gallia 8.1, in Vinton 8.4, in Hocking 8.6, while in Pike it +is 10.7, and in Lawrence 11.6. + +Among the remaining ten counties whose percentage of illiteracy is above +the average it appears (see Map 4, page 30) that in all but three, the +percentage of foreign-born persons is large, and that among counties where +the foreign born are few, there are, outside the Eighteen Counties, only +six for which the percentage of illiteracy is greater than 4.2, and three +of these are included in the counties which border upon them. + +It will be noted that in this region the number of foreign-born persons is +very small. The percentage for the State is 12.5, whereas in the Eighteen +Counties it is only 2.3. No less than 53 counties out of the 70 outside of +the Eighteen Counties, have a foreign population of more than 2.3 per +cent. + +In this region, therefore, where there is so high a percentage of +illiteracy, of illegitimacy, and of deaths from preventable disease, the +people are more nearly pure Americans than in the rest of the State. They +compare unfavorably with the people of counties where a large proportion +are foreigners. It is true that the cause does not lie in the origin of +the population. But the fact that these things are true in the most +American parts of Ohio, where we should naturally expect to find the best +situation, greatly emphasizes the significance of the conditions +disclosed. + +It is an additional indictment against those who are responsible that in +Mahoning County more than 28 per cent and in Cuyahoga County more than 33 +per cent of the population in 1910 were foreign born, yet in these +counties, containing the large cities of Youngstown and Cleveland, the +moral and social conditions are better than in the Eighteen Counties--a +rural section inhabited by our purest American stock. + +Such statistical data as are here presented are but as smoke indicating +fire. They do not overstate the urgency of the appeal from the unfortunate +over-churched and under-ministered communities of this section. Here gross +superstition exercises strong control over the thought and action of a +large proportion of the people. Syphilitic and other venereal diseases are +common and increasing over whole counties, while in some communities +nearly every family is afflicted with inherited or infectious disease. +Many cases of incest are known, inbreeding is rife. Imbeciles, +feeble-minded, and delinquents are numerous, politics is corrupt, the +selling of votes is common, petty crimes abound, the schools have been +badly managed and poorly attended. Cases of rape, assault, and robbery are +of almost weekly occurrence within five minutes' walk of the corporation +limits of one of the county seats, while in another county political +control is held by a self-confessed criminal. Alcoholic intemperence is +excessive. Gross immorality and its evil results are by no means confined +to the hill districts, but are extreme also in the towns. + +Adams County was made notorious because in the 1910 election nearly 2,000 +persons were disenfranchised for selling their votes, and there is +convincing evidence that it does not stand alone. Of course there are many +communities in this region where conditions are better, such as the area +immediately affected by the admirable and effective work of Rio Grande +College. But there is just as little question that the general deplorable +condition of the Eighteen Counties, ascertained through the personal +investigations of Mr. Gill, and confirmed by wide correspondence and the +statistical data here summarized, is true. + +The bad economic, as distinguished from the moral, conditions in the +Eighteen Counties are largely due to sterility of soil, and to the fact +that many of its hillsides are too steep for profitable cultivation. It is +often contended that economic conditions affect religion and morals, and +there is much truth in that contention. But it cannot be held that steep +hillsides and sterile soil of themselves produce conditions such as are +here described. Merely to state such a proposition is to refute it. Moral +and religious poverty must bear at least as much of the blame as poverty +of the soil. (See Maps 8, 9, and 10, and Table A, columns 8 and 9.) + +The total value of farm property falls below 15 million dollars in but 21 +of the 88 counties of Ohio. Of the 21, all but 6 are among the Eighteen +Counties. (See Map 8, and Table A, column 8.) In Adams, Athens, and Monroe +Counties, the value of farm property is only 10 million dollars each; in +Morgan 9, in Meigs and Scioto 8, in Gallia 7, in Hocking and Pike 6, in +Jackson and Lawrence 5, and in Vinton only 4. + +According to the United States Census the value of farm property in Ohio +increased nearly 60 per cent from 1900 to 1910. There were only ten +counties in the State in which farm property had not increased more than +25 per cent during that period. Eight of these are among the Eighteen +Counties. (See Map 9, and Table A, column 9.) + +According to the Census of 1910, there were only 13 counties in Ohio whose +land was valued at not more than $25.00 per acre. All of them are in the +Eighteen Counties. (See Map 10.) In the remaining five the land is valued +at not more than $50.00 per acre. It becomes impossible, therefore, to +avoid the question whether the character of the soil determines the +character and destiny of the people who are born upon it. + +Attention should be directed in passing to the fact that the low value of +the land is due in part to the failure of the people who live upon it to +develop and use the natural resources which are available. In some of the +poorest regions in the Eighteen Counties an occasional farmer is making a +good living from the soil, although his land by nature is no better than +that of his poor neighbors. As a rule the agricultural opportunities of +the region are neglected. For example, little fruit is grown, although +both climate and soil in much of the region are very favorable to fruit +production. + +But it remains true that the natural conditions as a whole are not as +favorable for agriculture, as they are to the north and northwest; and it +is an unquestionable fact that the character and condition of the earth's +surface has a relation to the physical, intellectual, social, and moral +conditions of the people who live upon it. Undoubtedly this is as true in +southeastern Ohio as it is elsewhere. Poor soil, as a rule, does not hold +upon itself the most enterprising families so tenaciously as good soil, +and for that reason we might fairly expect the people of these districts +to have less vigor and less initiative. On such soil it is therefore more +difficult to sustain thriving churches, and so the moral and religious +life may be more prone to decline. + +But soil conditions by themselves cannot demoralize a people. They can do +so only where the church is failing to do its work. The natural conditions +of soil and climate are by no means worse in the Eighteen Counties than in +many other areas where fairly good moral conditions are found. They are no +worse than they were in the parish of John Frederick Oberlin, nor in many +fairly prosperous New England communities of to-day. Even where moral, +economic, and other conditions are bad, communities usually respond +quickly to the work of a well-equipped resident pastor, as the experience +of home missionaries abundantly proves. + +In the first parish served as pastor by Mr. Gill, the soil and the people +were very poor. The moral conditions, because of a church situation very +similar to that of the neglected communities of southeastern Ohio, were +bad. But the response to the work of a church which gave good service was +all that could have been anticipated. Even the economic conditions were +notably improved as a result of the church's work, while the moral change +in the community was striking, rapid, and enduring. Men familiar with home +missionary work regard such results as normal. + +Where the conditions are as unfavorable as they are in the Eighteen +Counties, it is unquestionably the duty of the church as a whole, and +especially of the churches of the prosperous districts, to assist the +weaker churches not only with supervision and advice, but also by helping +to provide well-trained and well-equipped ministers, thus guarding against +the ravages of an ignorant and untrained or unworthy and insincere +ministry. + +The people of southeastern Ohio will undoubtedly be as responsive to good +church work and as ready to follow good religious leadership as the people +of similar regions elsewhere. Such work and leadership for many years, at +least, they have not had. (See the next chapter.) Their ecclesiastical and +religious conditions are such as afford no ground for expecting better +social, moral, and physical conditions than those actually found to exist. +Surely we cannot accept these conditions as inevitable until the church +shall at least have made a serious effort to test the possibilities and +learn the results of carrying out a live and modern program. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE CHURCHES IN THE EIGHTEEN COUNTIES + + +In the Eighteen Counties of Southeastern Ohio some of the older and +stronger denominations are well represented, as Table C shows. (See page +39.) No less than 526, or more than one-third, of the total number of +churches are Methodist Episcopal. Nearly one-tenth are United Brethren in +Christ, another tenth Baptist, one-fifteenth Christian, and one-fifteenth +Presbyterian; while other powerful denominations are also present. It is +evident that the failure of the churches in this area cannot be laid to +the weakness or poverty of the denominations represented, for they are for +the most part neither weak nor poor. Ohio, moreover, is a wealthy State, +and its churches make large contributions for church work and church +extension both in America and abroad. + +It has been too commonly held in the past that missionary effort should +consist largely in organizing and building churches. We do not believe +that proposition is sound. In rural Ohio the worst moral and religious +conditions are found where there are the largest number of churches in +proportion to the number of inhabitants. + +In 39 counties out of a total of 88 in the State, there is one country +church for each 275 people or less. (See Map 5 and Table A, column 5.) Of +these 39 counties, 17 are among the Eighteen Counties under our special +consideration. Outside these Eighteen Counties and the counties contiguous +to them, no county has an average of less than 228 persons to a church, +but it appears that Washington has one church for 226 persons, Monroe one +for 214, Pike one for 211, Gallia one for 197, Morgan one for 194, Jackson +one for 193, while Vinton has one for 182, and Meigs one church for 178. +In the rural sections of these Eighteen Counties there are 1,542 churches +and 248 townships, or more than 6 churches to a township. + +While the fact that this region is more difficult to travel, because more +hilly, than many other parts of the State might constitute a reason for +having many churches, it certainly cannot be held that the bad moral and +religious conditions which exist are due to lack of a sufficient number of +them. Nor is support here to be found for the contention sometimes made +that religious work thrives best under competition. + +The larger the number of churches in proportion to the population, the +more difficult it obviously becomes to secure, support, and retain +resident pastors. In proportion to the number of churches, the Eighteen +Counties have a comparatively small number of ministers. (See Map 6 and +Table A, column 6.) In the State as a whole, about one-third, or 34 per +cent, of the churches have resident ministers. In only three counties +outside the Eighteen is it true that less than one-fourth of the churches +have them. These are Delaware, Coshocton, and Pickaway, and the latter is +one of the bordering counties. But in 13 of the Eighteen Counties less +than one-fourth of the churches have resident ministers. It will be noted +that less than one-fifth of the churches in Scioto, Pike, Lawrence, and +Meigs Counties have resident ministers, one-sixth in Morgan County, and +less than one-sixth in Jackson, Hocking, and Gallia. + +In the Eighteen Counties the number of resident ministers in proportion to +the population, as well as in proportion to the number of churches, is +small. (See Map 7 and Table A, column 7.) There are 24 counties in Ohio in +which there are more than 1,000 persons for each resident minister, of +which 13 are among the Eighteen Counties under consideration, and three +among the bordering counties. Noble County has a resident minister to +every 1,240 persons, Gallia to every 1,396, Lawrence to every 1,450, +Pickaway to every 1,458, while Hocking has only one to 1,693, or nearly +1,700 persons. Here, as in most rural sections, an absentee ministry is +necessarily ineffective. (See pages 50-51.) + +The foregoing facts afford convincing evidence that the church in this +region is rendering poor service--how poor the reader may judge from the +following description of the religious and ecclesiastical conditions found +by Mr. Gill in his personal investigation on the ground. + +For the most part the farm people of these Eighteen Counties are very +religious. This is attested not merely by the large number of churches, +but also by the frequency of well-attended revival services, held in +spring, summer, autumn, and winter. (In Pike County, for example, no less +than 1,500 revival services were held in thirty years, or an average of 50 +each year.) Yet a normal, wholesome religion, bearing as its fruit better +living and all-round human development, and cherished and propagated by +sane and sober-minded people, is rarely known. The main function of a +church, according to the popular conception, is to hold these protracted +meetings, to stir up religious emotion, and, under its influence, to bring +to pass certain psychological experiences. The idea seems to be dominant +in nearly all the denominations and churches that the presence of the +Deity is made known mainly, if not solely, through states of intense +emotion which may be stimulated in religious assemblies. Such emotion is +held to be not only a manifestation of the Deity's presence, but also a +proof of His existence. No man is held to be religious or saved from evil +destiny unless he has had such experience. It becomes, therefore, the +business of the preacher of the church to create conditions favorable to +the experiencing of these emotions. + +Officials of denominations to which more than two-thirds of the churches +belong encourage or permit the promotion of a religion of the excessively +emotional type, which encourages rolling upon the floor by men, women, and +children, and going into trances, while some things which have happened in +the regular services of a church in one of the largest denominations +cannot properly be described in print. The leaders of a religious cult +commonly called Holy Rollers seem to be most efficient in this direction. +The character of their services and activities produce the results +desired, according to the traditions accepted and proclaimed for +generations by ignorant preachers to a nonprogressive people. + +A Holy Roller movement was started in Pike County in the year 1902. It has +steadily been gaining ground ever since, and has never been more +flourishing than now. It is the livest sect in this and neighboring +counties. Its meetings are large and full of enthusiasm. Except the +churches of this cult, very few are now left in the western half of Pike +County which show any activity whatever. In one district of 150 square +miles (in which there are 1,200 children enrolled in the schools and in +all 1,600 young people from the ages of six to twenty) no churches were +holding services in 1917 except those of the Holy Rollers. + +The seasons of protracted Holy Roller meetings often last for several +weeks. Frequently they begin each day at 10.00 A. M. and continue until +2.00 A. M. the next day, with intermissions for meals. These meetings are +characterized by much singing, with music well adapted to rythmic motions +of the body, by dancing and clapping the hands, sometimes by shouting and +joyous screaming, rolling upon the floor, tumbling together of men and +women in heaps, trances, while at least one of their preachers has +exercised hypnotic power over some of his followers and has put them +through stunts in no way differing from those of the professional +hypnotist showman who, in times past, for the price of admission, has +amused and astonished his audience with exhibitions of his skill. + +In one village where Mr. Gill attended a church belonging to this +movement, it was the only religious organization holding services or +showing any signs of life. Although at this service the building was full +to its capacity, as is usual with meetings of this kind, the church not +only had no Sunday school, but its leaders kept the children away from one +which a missionary of the American Sunday School Union was trying to start +in the neighborhood. Three-fourths of the parents of the fifty pupils in +the local school were adherents of this cult, yet its leaders opposed +having better day schools. The school principal, under the direction of +the County School Superintendent, tried to hold literary meetings for +intellectual and social improvement, but under the influence of the Holy +Roller leaders, the parents refused to let their children attend, and the +enterprise was defeated. Apparently no meeting for any purpose is to be +tolerated except the Holy Roller meetings themselves. These theoretically +and in fact take the place of all other gatherings. + +The Holy Roller church in this community, as elsewhere, in its total +influence promotes immorality. It has a tendency to break up families and +destroy the peace and harmony of the neighborhood. In the judgment of the +more sober-minded people, the Holy Roller movement spoils the life of the +community wherever it goes. + +Although the Holy Roller cult apparently was not started in this region +until a few years ago, it would seem that the religious activities of the +older denominational churches were but a good preparation for it. In fact, +good soil is found for sprouting the seed of Holy Rollerism in many +sections of the State. The difference in religious beliefs and ideals +between the Holy Rollers and the preachers of other denominations in the +Eighteen Counties too often is not easily detected. Denominations to which +at least two-thirds of the churches belong employ many men and women as +preachers who are extremely ignorant. + +In one of its districts, nearly half of the twenty or thirty ministers of +the largest denomination in the State did not have a common school +education. It is usual to find ministers intellectually inferior to a +number of families whom they are supposed to lead and teach. In some +districts a considerable proportion of the preachers have had no more than +three or four grades of common school instruction. Some cannot write their +own names correctly. Accordingly religious education is neglected. The +people apparently have been untouched by the general advance in religious +knowledge during the past century. + +Many intelligent people in the Eighteen Counties deplore these conditions +and would be glad to have churches of a different type. But it is also +very common to find among the more prosperous, especially in the fertile +river valleys, a spirit of utter indifference towards religion, and often +of gross materialism. Under such circumstances it is not surprising to +find that in several sections much hostility to institutional religion +exists. It is given expression by rural hoodlums who cut to pieces +harnesses and slash tires belonging to ministers or laymen who attend +religious gatherings, while in some communities stones are thrown through +the windows of buildings where public worship is being held. + +While it is true that out of the poorest and most unfortunate districts +bright boys and girls frequently emerge, escape their surroundings, and +become good citizens, it is none the less true that a large proportion of +those who remain have no reasonable chance for wholesome development. + +The bad influence of the Eighteen Counties extends far beyond their +borders. Out of them many farm laborers have gone to communities to the +north and northwest, often with deplorable results to the social, +religious, and moral conditions of the communities where they are +employed. (See Table B.) It is calculated that no less than 61,000 persons +emigrated in the ten-year period from 1900 to 1910 from the strictly rural +districts of _sixteen_ of the Eighteen Counties. + +In Madison, a fertile county near the center of the State, in an area +sixteen miles long and from seven to eleven miles wide, there are three +closed and no active churches. One of the causes of this condition is the +fact that the farm laborers imported by the owners of large tracts of +lands were never made familiar, before they came, with a normal type of +religion. These men come from the Eighteen Counties or from sections +across the Ohio River where the conditions are very much the same. In +parts of several other counties the situation brought about by similar +immigration is extremely bad. + +The Eighteen Counties demand missionary activity on the part of the church +as a whole, not only for the sake of the unfortunate people who live in +them, but also for the sake of the other regions whose welfare is +threatened by the transfer of low standards of all kinds, which, like a +forest fire, are creeping away from the region where they originated. + +Among the large number of intelligent persons who know and deplore the +situation in typical communities of southeastern Ohio, very few seem to +cherish hope of improvement. Such pessimism appears to be unjustified. +Good work is now being done by missionaries of the American Sunday School +Union. What is more important, there is much promise that the trouble can +be reached and cured by the modern country church movement, which is +already making real progress in Ohio. As a result of this movement, for +example, the Board of Home Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church has, +for the first time, appropriated missionary funds to be used in this +section, while one of the District Superintendents of the same +denomination is carrying out a radically changed program for the churches +under his supervision. + + +[Illustration: MAP A WHERE CONDITIONS DEMAND MISSIONARY AID] + +[Illustration: MAP 1 HIGH DEATH RATES FROM TUBERCULOSIS] + +[Illustration: MAP 2 HIGH RATES OF ILLEGITIMACY] + +[Illustration: MAP 3 WHERE ILLITERACY ABOUNDS] + +[Illustration: MAP 4 DISTRIBUTION OF FOREIGN BORN WHITES] + +[Illustration: MAP 5 EXCESSIVE OVER-CHURCHING] + +[Illustration: MAP 6 CHURCHES MANY BUT MINISTERS FEW] + +[Illustration: MAP 7 NUMBER OF PERSONS TO A RESIDENT MINISTER] + +[Illustration: MAP 8 VALUE OF FARM PROPERTY IN THE YEAR 1910] + +[Illustration: MAP 9 INCREASE IN VALUE OF FARM PROPERTY] + +[Illustration: MAP 10 RICH LAND AND POOR LAND] + + +TABLE A + +SHOWING THAT IN A GROUP OF 18 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEASTERN OHIO THERE IS AN +EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PREVENTABLE DISEASE AND ILLITERACY, AN EXCESSIVE +NUMBER OF ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS, EXCESSIVE OVERCHURCHING, A VERY SMALL +NUMBER OF RESIDENT MINISTERS IN PROPORTION TO THE NUMBER OF CHURCHES AND +NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THAT AS COMPARED WITH OTHER SECTIONS THE TOTAL VALUE OF +FARM PROPERTY IS SMALL AND THE INCREASE IN VALUE SLIGHT + + Key: + 1 _Average annual rate of deaths from tuberculosis of the lungs per + 100,000 persons, 1909, 1910, 1911_ + 2 _Average annual rate per 100,000 population of illegitimate births + for 1909, 1910_ + 3 _Per cent of illiterate males of voting age, 1910_ + 4 _Per cent of total population who were foreign born white, 1910_ + 5 _Number of persons to a church_ + 6 _Per cent of churches which have resident ministers_ + 7 _Number of persons to each resident minister_ + 8 _Number of millions of dollars at which farm property is valued_ + 9 _Per cent increase in value of farm property 1900-1910_ + + 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 + For State, + 88 counties 125 43.9 4.2 12.5 279 34 825 59 + Adams 147 6.9 0.5 266 1031 10 16 + Athens 155 65 7.4 5.3 229 21 1086 10 16 + Brown 193 4.3 1.9 1129 15 + Clermont 164 249 14 + Gallia 184 76 8.1 1.2 197 14 1396 7 13 + Highland 145 252 + Hocking 78 8.6 3.5 235 14 1693 6 + Jackson 147 123 9.5 2 193 16 1222 5 + Lawrence 172 113 11.6 1.8 267 18 1450 5 19 + Meigs 158 178 18 1010 8 + Monroe 78 5.4 2.4 214 24 10 19 + Morgan 50 194 17 1150 9 25 + Noble 67 4.5 3.2 248 20 1240 11 + Pike 216 89 10.7 1.4 211 18 1209 6 + Ross 175 87 7.4 2.2 252 + Scioto 169 73 7.7 3 233 19 1211 8 + Vinton 49 8.4 .8 182 22 4 12 + Washington 58 4.5 2.5 226 21 1087 14 25 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + Average for 18 counties 2.3 + -------------------------------------------------------------------- + Belmont 55 7.1 15.1 1107 + Clinton + Fairfield 222 + Fayette 55 6.2 .7 257 1234 + Guernsey 55 7.8 9.2 269 13 + Hamilton 217 66 14.3 + Muskingum 48 224 + Perry 4.6 7.3 9 + Pickaway 130 61 5.7 1.8 22 1458 + Warren 271 + + +TABLE B + +SHOWING CALCULATED NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO MIGRATED FROM THE RURAL DISTRICTS +OF SIXTEEN COUNTIES IN SOUTHEASTERN OHIO 1900-1910 + + Key: + 1 _Population of strictly rural townships, 1910_ + 2 _Excess of birth rate over death rate_ + 3 _Population of strictly rural townships, 1900_ + 4 _Calculated total population in 1910 had there been no migration_ + 5 _Calculated no. persons who migrated 1900-1910_ + + 1 2 3 4 5 + Total 61,418 + Adams 24,775 12.15 26,328 29,432 4,677 + Brown 24,832 4.93 28,237 30,241 5,409 + Clermont 29,551 3.81 31,610 33,377 3,826 + Gallia 19,546 2.73 20,973 21,527 1,981 + Highland 17,382 4.22 19,504 20,283 2,901 + Hocking 16,934 12.72 19,183 21,380 4,446 + Jackson 10,996 12.47 12,009 13,444 2,448 + Lawrence 23,202 14.83 24,644 28,192 4,990 + Meigs 16,162 1.96 18,961 19,306 3,144 + Monroe 19,940 13.73 23,373 26,347 6,407 + Morgan 16,097 8.07 17,905 20,777 4,680 + Noble 18,601 11.28 19,466 21,613 3,012 + Pike 15,723 11.48 18,172 20,118 4,395 + Ross 22,460 5.6 25,758 25,893 3,433 + Vinton 13,096 9.4 15,330 15,464 2,368 + Washington 29,409 7.4 32,481 32,710 3,301 + + +TABLE C + +DENOMINATIONS OF THE CHURCHES IN EIGHTEEN COUNTIES OF SOUTHEASTERN OHIO + + Key: + 1 _Churches in 248 strictly rural townships_ + 2 _Other rural churches_ + 3 _All rural churches_ + + 1 2 3 + Total 1,542 593 2,135 + Methodist Episcopal 526 216 742 + United Brethren 138 43 181 + Baptist 124 26 150 + Christian 97 13 110 + Presbyterian 96 40 136 + Disciples 87 39 126 + Methodist Protestant 63 25 88 + Christian Union 46 5 51 + Catholic 43 22 65 + Non-Progressive Disciples 28 3 31 + Radical United Brethren 26 4 30 + Lutheran 21 28 49 + Congregational 17 1 18 + Reformed 14 16 30 + German Evangelical 14 1 15 + United Presbyterian 10 23 33 + Friends 10 21 31 + All others 182 67 249 + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A POLICY AND PROGRAM + + +The roots of the religious and moral life of the Nation are chiefly in the +country church. As in southeastern Ohio, so in any area where the church +fails, degeneracy begins. The low and sordid moral atmosphere found in so +many rural villages and communities, not only among the Eighteen Counties, +but throughout the State (and far beyond the boundaries of Ohio) is +altogether unnecessary. It constitutes a challenge to the church which can +no longer go unheeded. Obviously, whatever reforms in methods and policies +may be required to enable it efficiently to perform its task must be made. + + +(1) _A Better Program_ + +One of the chief underlying causes of the present condition of the +churches is an imperfect conception of their function. We recognize the +fact that the effective proclaiming of the Gospel is the essential if not +the greatest and most important task of the churches, but the impression +is still very widespread in the Ohio churches that to preach it from +pulpit and platform is almost their only task. That this is not enough to +bring the churches to their full effectiveness has been conclusively +proved by the experience of foreign missionaries during the past hundred +years. In proportion to the number of their missionaries, the missionary +societies which have believed that proclaiming the Christian message is +the only function of the church, have not made as many converts nor built +up as strong churches as those which engage also in the work of healing +the sick and teaching. The most successful missionary organizations teach +not only Christian life and theology, but all that makes for what is best +in our Christian civilization. + +The welfare of a man's soul may be increased by promoting the welfare of +the rest of him, and the aim of the church should be to bring every man to +the highest possible development of all his powers. In seeking to do so it +will not only be more effective in creating a higher manhood and +womanhood, but will also make its message better understood and secure a +greater number of church members and adherents. + +For our city churches also this is as true as for the foreign missionary +field, although perhaps less obviously so. The equipment of so large a +number of modern city churches for various forms of social service is a +strong indication that those who control their policies recognize the +necessity of a more diversified field of work. + +The success and growth of the Y. M. C. A. is another indication of the +truth for which we are contending. This institution which is a branch or +arm of the Christian church has declared its aim to be the development of +"soul, mind, and body." As a result of this policy it is now engaged in +many kinds of work which should also be done more widely and generally and +so on a greater scale throughout the church. It receives large +contributions of money from members of the churches, and it rightly +undertakes and successfully carries out large enterprises where other +church organizations fail to see their duties and opportunities and lag +behind or remain idle. + +Still another reason for believing in a larger function and mission of the +church is found in the fact that every strikingly successful country +church is found to be deeply concerned with the needs of the community, +and is carrying out a broad and comprehensive program of service. This is +true not only in the State of Ohio, but throughout the Nation. + +Finally and conclusively, it may be added that the broader program was +instituted and carried out by the Founder of the Christian religion, and +was by Him enjoined upon His followers. + +What the new program for the local country church should be is no longer +a matter of conjecture. Country ministers in very many widely separated +parishes of the United States have worked it out independently in trying +to meet the needs of their communities, and have everywhere reached +substantially the same conclusion. The program is essentially the same in +all places where the most successful country church work is done. It has +found an embodiment in the mass of country church literature which has +been published during the past eight years, and it has been studied, +tried, and proved to meet the need of large numbers of country pastors in +Ohio and in many of the other States. How it has been carried out in some +Ohio parishes is described in Chapter VIII, pages 75-87. + + +(2) _A Better Ministry_ + +To carry out the better program for the local country church requires an +educated ministry. Ohio has suffered greatly from ministerial quackery. +Very imperfectly equipped ministers, such as are found in nearly every +county of the State, and unsound ignorant men, such as are so common in +the Eighteen Counties, cannot meet the requirements of the new program. +Doubtless the educational requirements of the discipline of many of the +denominations are set too low, but even so, if the rules of the discipline +were strictly obeyed, a large proportion of the present ministers would be +eliminated. The new program requires trained men. + +To get better men, better opportunity and better pay must be supplied. +Fields of service must be created large enough, yet sufficiently compact +and free from competing rivals, to make good work possible. The farmers +must be convinced that better support of the ministry is essential, in +their own interest. At the same time the best young men of the churches +must be assured that the new program offers a field so promising as to +make it worth their while to enter the ministry. The churches are wise +enough and strong enough to do all this if they will address themselves to +the situation and take it seriously. + + +(3) _Better Support_ + +In a large part of Ohio the farmers are able and ready to multiply the +amount of money they now contribute for the support of the churches. When +it is made clear to them that better pay will bring a better minister, +increased support will cheerfully be given. But the farmers will not give +more money either for the support of an inferior minister, or to carry out +the old program. They will demand their money's worth, and this the +present methods do not, in general, supply. The increased prosperity and +consequent ability of the farmers to support the church more liberally is +indicated by the fact that the total value of farm property in Ohio +increased nearly 60 per cent during the ten-year period from 1900 to 1910. + +But it must be remembered that increased support will not be given by the +farmers unless the need for it, and what it will bring, is brought +forcefully to their attention. This the individual minister cannot do, for +to attempt it lays him open to the charge of feathering his own nest. It +should be done by a State Federation of Churches or by such organizations +as The Ohio Rural Life Association, acting through its own institutes and +the farmers' institutes, through the circulation of its literature, and +through the formation of organizations for this purpose in the churches of +the different counties. No matter how good work a minister may do, +ordinarily he will not be adequately supported unless some special agency +does this work. + + +(4) _Better Acquaintance_ + +The present system of circuits entails upon the country minister an +enormous waste of time. If a man tries to do the pastoral work which is +strictly necessary, he must spend a very large proportion of his working +hours in driving to the widely separated points of his various parishes, +crossing and recrossing as he goes the lines of travel of other ministers +engaged in the same territory upon the same work. That the country +minister should be called upon to waste so large a part of his life in +this way is shameful because it is bad and inefficient organization, and +carries with it an utterly needless loss. + +To understand the significance of pastoral calling in a rural community it +must be remembered that isolation is as characteristic of the country as +congestion is of the cities. A large proportion of rural families look +upon a minister who calls frequently as a personal asset of great value. +He supplies opportunities not otherwise available for the discussion of +matters of general interest or of deep personal concern. He calls +attention to the things otherwise forgotten, and brings, or should bring +with him, the inestimable advantage of intimate contact with a wise and +well-trained mind. Moreover, a man full of good will to all going from +house to house, sympathetically trying to help and understand, will +inevitably modify the uncharitable and unjust public opinion which either +exists or is believed to exist in most rural communities. + +Equally effective are the incidental contacts of a minister engaged in +community service, such as work with boys, or the promotion of welfare +enterprises. Thus engaged he will inevitably get in touch with his +parishioners, and supply the needs of individuals and of the community, at +least as fully as the minister who devotes most of his working hours to +pastoral calls. In such work less time is spent in the long drives or +walks between houses which are necessary in systematic calling, while the +minister gets to know the men better and bothers them less. + +Without pastoral calling and community welfare work, the country +minister's service is sure to be ineffective. But as a matter of fact the +country ministers of Ohio for the most part do very little of either. The +country people as a rule, receive very few pastoral calls, according to +the almost universal testimony of the country ministers themselves as well +as that of other persons who live in the country. In Delaware County, for +example, a prosperous county in the center of the State, there is an area +of 82 square miles, with more than 2,100 people, in which only one +minister makes any pastoral calls, and he makes very few. Half the +townships of this county have no resident ministers. + +Mr. Gill found one township in the north-central section of the State in +which the farmers' families probably had not been called on once in five +years. One woman had not received a call from a minister in twelve years. +When finally called upon she became a regular and happy church attendant, +though she had not been to church since her childhood. Another family was +found in the same region whose house no minister had entered for nineteen +years. In an Ohio River township, the members of a family testified that a +minister had not called on them for twenty-five years, and still others +asserted that no minister had ever entered their homes. From the reports +of eighteen pastors in one denominational district it appeared that on an +average each one made only six calls a year upon non-church members, +although these were more than 60 per cent of the people. "Our minister +does not know the people of this community" is common testimony everywhere +in the country parishes. + +The country minister's influence is still further reduced because his term +of service is short--usually but a year or two, rarely three years. +Moreover, his efforts are commonly divided among several communities and +thus are spread too thin to produce results. Add to that the fact that in +each community the people whom he serves are intermingled with the +parishioners of ministers of other denominations. Under these +circumstances how can he become efficient in community service, and how +can he get to know the people of his charge? Ordinarily he does not even +attempt it. Under present conditions the country minister who does, +generally accomplishes little and wears himself into discouragement. + + +(5) _Rearrangement of Circuits_ + +The old circuit system under which many of the denominations developed +their work and which is now the system employed in nearly all the larger +denominations in the State, was of undoubted value in the beginning of +their work in pioneer days. But like many other efficient methods of +early times it has ceased to be the best method for present needs, in the +form in which we now find it at work. This is true except in a few +instances where it appears in such a modified form as to be adaptable to +present conditions. + +Under the circuit system it has often been accepted as a policy by church +officials that every church must have a minister and every minister a +church. The advantages accruing both to the churches and ministers from a +reasonably cautious and not too consistent application of such a rule are +obvious. But failure to use such caution and too great insistence on its +universal application too often have resulted in the employment of +unequipped and uneducated ministers and sometimes even of men whose +character was questionable, which in turn, has helped to bring about a low +standard of pay for the minister. The pay of the skilled has fallen to +that of the unskilled, and the total result has been to cheapen the +ministry. The standard among farmers for the support of both church and +minister, therefore, has fallen low. We must have a greatly modified +system or a better system before the ministry can be better paid. + +Under the circuit system as now applied in Ohio the churches too often +provide for but little else than preaching. Even the Sunday school, one of +the most hopeful and valuable kinds of church work, is hampered by it, for +this work needs the leadership of a trained ministry, which the present +circuit system tends to prevent. The minister with a circuit can rarely +attend the services of his Sunday schools, and the task of promoting the +Sunday school work during the week in the several communities of his +charge is usually too arduous for him. + +In times past it has been held commendable for a denomination to establish +one of its churches in every community, regardless of the number of +churches already there. By making use of the present circuit system, it +has been possible to establish and after a fashion to maintain a church +almost anywhere. Hence the present unfortunate multiplication of churches. + +When rural communities are overchurched, as under the working of this +plan in Ohio most of them are, competition between them necessarily +results not in the survival of the fit, but in the continued existence of +an excessive number of bloodless, moribund churches, whose energies are +almost entirely exhausted in the mere effort to keep alive. + +When the circuit system is adopted by more than one competing denomination +in a field as it is in Ohio it helps to perpetuate interchurch +competition. When one adopts it all others must, or retire from the field. +It cannot be held that the resulting competition helps to make more +Christians, or that it tends to develop character or community life. On +the contrary, it reduces both the power of the church as a whole and the +influence of the individual churches for personal righteousness and +community welfare. Then, as the churches under the competitive system grow +weaker, they must be yoked in larger circuits. So far has the practice +gone that in one circuit in Ohio there are actually ten churches. + +A variation of this system is found in certain Holy Roller churches where +an undefined number of churches together depend for their leadership on a +group of itinerant revivalists. Frequent or occasional seasons of revival +services often constitute the sole activity of these churches, yet because +of the weakness of the latter they are succeeding or have succeeded in +crowding out many churches of the older denominations. There is a clear +instance of this in the western half of Pike County, where nearly all the +churches are abandoned excepting those of the Holy Rollers--a striking +example of reverse selection or the survival of the unfit. + +The movement for the conservation and improvement of rural life has no +greater enemy than the misused circuit system. Not only does it weaken the +churches, but it necessarily discourages the development of the community +and of community life. With his efforts divided among three or more +different communities, his parishioners mingled with members of competing +churches, the country minister cannot hope for the cooperation necessary +to effective leadership. His success in any work for the community, +because it would add prestige to his church, as a rule is not desired by +the members of other denominations. The entire circuit situation as it +works to-day in the region here under investigation whatever may be its +value elsewhere tends to make the modern program of successful churches +entirely impracticable. + +Escape from the deadening environment of the country church circuit is the +ardent desire of most country ministers who have had any reasonable degree +of equipment for their vocation, and self-improvement as a preacher seems +to be the only way out. The circuit minister of such equipment naturally +regards his present work as temporary. He looks forward to leaving the +country through promotion to a town church. The city, where he hopes to +be, and not the country, where he is, becomes for him the only field for +success in the ministry. + +It is evident, therefore, that country parishes to be successful must be +more compact. As a substitute for the circuit, churches in a small +community where there are too many should be united in the support of one +resident minister. If they cannot support him, then other adjacent +churches should join with them in a federated circuit under a single +pastor. Such is the right use of the circuit in the country. + +The territory thus placed under one minister may be so large as to make it +desirable to employ a paid assistant to the pastor. Freed from the +necessity of long drives to other communities, the pastor can make many +calls nearer home. Community enterprises, under this system made possible, +will bring the pastor into personal touch with the people. He will become +their friend and they will wish him a long term of service among them. And +only when a minister has been two or three years in a community can he +begin to render his most effective service. The enlarged and unified +parish, such as that of Benzonia, Michigan, or Hanover, New Jersey, should +be carefully distinguished from the misused circuit, which now plays so +significant a part in the church life of Ohio. Parishes like these afford +all the benefits of the circuit with none of its defects. + + +[Illustration: MAP 11 SHOWING THAT IN 317 OR 27 PER CENT OF THE STRICTLY +RURAL TOWNSHIPS NO CHURCH HAS A RESIDENT MINISTER] + + +(6) _More Resident Ministers_ + +While the preaching of a good pastor is an indispensable factor in the +individual development of his parishioners and in the progress of +community life, that of the non-resident is by comparison of little value. +It is shooting in the air without seeing the target, like the fire of +artillery without the aid of air scouts. There is no greater force for +righteousness in a country community than a church with a resident +minister, well educated, well equipped, wisely selected, whose term of +service is not too short. The church is the only institution which can +hope to employ a man of this type to give his whole time, as a minister +can, to the service of his community. + +The right kind of resident minister will have a strong and intelligent +desire to secure opportunities for the best development of his children +and to create a favorable environment for them. He will therefore take a +keen interest in the schools, in the establishing of libraries, in play +and social life, in keeping out evil influences and promoting general +decency. He may fairly expect to see the fruits of his labor, and will be +all the more likely on that account to become interested in the economic +betterment of the community. Such a man will stimulate it and help it to +make use of all available means to further the general welfare. A church +with such a pastor is community insurance against degeneracy and decay. + +One of the most striking examples of the service of a resident minister +during a long pastorate is found in the life of the well-known John +Frederick Oberlin, a free biography of whom has recently been made +available to all country ministers. Large numbers of modern examples may +also readily be found. One is given on pages 77-80 of this report. + +There are few more deplorable wastes than that of the church in the use of +its rural ministry. This waste alone is enough to account for much of the +decline in country life, because under the present system only a small +fraction of the normal influence of the ministry can be exerted. And it +is a needless waste, for it is fully within the power of the churches +through their officials to correct it. The minister must be given a field +of such a character that it is possible for him to do his work, and he +must be given that adequate support which proper church administration can +most assuredly secure for him. Only when these readjustments have been +made will it be fair and right to appeal to the young men of education and +ability to enter the rural ministry, and stay in it. + +The thing can be done. We have in mind a rural township with less than +2,000 inhabitants, lying in a hill country, which has six resident +ministers in its five villages, while the term of service of the minister +of each of the parishes is nearly always long. To establish at least one +resident minister in every township is not too high an aim. The people can +and should be brought to understand that the value of a successful +minister rises in increasing proportion with his knowledge of the +community and the length of his service. + + +(7) _Interchurch Cooperation_ + +To substitute cooperation for competition is an essential condition of +rural church progress, at least in Ohio. Whenever the new program is +adopted by a community it will discover that interchurch competition is +hostile to community prosperity. Many rural communities already know that +interchurch cooperation is desirable. But the great question is how to +secure it. Nearly every community is aware that it has too many churches, +but the task of reducing the number or securing interchurch comity is a +problem beset with difficulties. These difficulties, however, are by no +means insuperable. Many communities have already found ways to overcome +them. + +In every community which really requires more than one church or pastor, +there should be a federation of churches; that is, a joint committee of +pastors and delegates officially appointed by the several churches to +learn and meet the needs, religious, or social, which require concerted +action. While such federations, which are carefully to be distinguished +from federated churches, are common in our cities, comparatively few are +found in the country. One of these is in Shiloh, Ohio, a description of +which may be found on page 75. There appear to be no very great +difficulties in the way of bringing such federations about. + +In communities whose compactness permits, and whose population and +resources require, that there should be only one congregation and pastor, +but where two or more churches already exist, the churches clearly should +either be united organically in a single denominational church, or a +federated church should be formed. Descriptions of federated churches may +be found on pages 59-69. + +In a township or community where population and resources are inadequate +to support more than one pastor, but where the population is so +distributed that more than one place of worship and organized church are +required, a federated circuit may well be formed and a common pastor be +employed. In such case the several churches should be officially +represented by a joint committee which would act for the circuit not only +in employing the common pastor, but also in learning and meeting all the +religious and social needs which require concerted church action. + +In securing pastors and in other matters where assistance is needed, the +local federated churches and federated circuits should be aided by the +State Federation of Churches if there is one, and if not by such bodies as +the Committee of Interchurch Cooperation of the Ohio Rural Life +Association. Both Federation and Association are necessary for other +purposes, and therefore no ground whatever exists for the objection +sometimes made that federated churches will require the formation of new +organizations to supervise them. + +While it is true that an uneducated minister ordinarily cannot satisfy the +people of various denominations, and that usually he is sectarian in his +thinking and point of view, it is equally true that where a well-educated +man is pastor, the needs of the people of various denominations can easily +be met and church unity be made possible. + + +(8) _Community Churches_ + +The most successful rural church is the community church. Its members work +chiefly not for the church itself, but for the community. Its ambition is +to serve every person in its neighborhood, to create an environment +favorable to the highest possible development of every person in the +neighborhood, and to stimulate other organizations and persons to serve +the community in every possible way. It is conceivable that there might be +more than one such church in a neighborhood, but in this discussion it is +assumed that a community church is the only church in the community, for +by far the larger number of rural communities in Ohio should have but one +church. Since, on an average, there are five churches in a township and +only 1,448 persons, the formation of community churches is evidently both +advisable and important. + +The community church may be a denominational church or a federated church. +It is the judgment of most of the denominational officials who are members +of the Committee of Interchurch Cooperation of the Ohio Rural Life +Association that wherever possible churches should be united in one +denominational church through the reciprocal exchange and elimination of +small churches by the denominational organizations. In such an exchange +church members of denomination A would unite with the church of +denomination B in community M, while members of denomination B would unite +with the church of denomination A in community N, and so on. A number of +such exchanges have been made, and so far as can be learned, they have +worked well. But the members of the small churches frequently refuse to +carry out this plan. They often care more for their local church than for +their denomination, and are not willing that their own church organization +should be destroyed. While such exchanges will doubtless continue to be +made from time to time, it is unlikely that rapid progress will be +achieved by this method alone. + +On the other hand, the members of a local community are usually ready to +form a federated church when they understand it. This has been done in +Northfield, Aurora, Wayland, Olmstead Falls, Milford Centre and +Huntington, in Greene Township, Trumbull County, and in many other +communities. A description of some of them may be found on pages 60-69. If +the officials and superintendents of the church should become as favorable +to the formation of federated churches as they are to exchange between +denominations, and should actively further the movement, they could +without question bring about the unification of the churches in very large +numbers of communities which stand greatly in need of it. + +Here then we have two possible methods of uniting the Christian people in +the rural communities. One of them--denominational exchange--is favored by +the officials but often opposed by the people in the churches. The +other--the federated church--is favored by the people in the churches and +opposed by many of the officials. + +It is our contention that in the majority of cases the method preferred by +the people is more desirable than that preferred by the officials. For a +man to leave his own denomination and unite with another often involves +action against the conscience. In some of the denominations, for example, +the members have been trained to think it undesirable to subscribe to a +creed. But creed subscription is required by the churches of many of the +denominations as a condition of membership. In such cases the church +officials may properly hesitate to urge a part of the people to do what +they believe is not right. + +Another reason which often makes it impossible for the church member of +one denomination to unite with the church of another is a temperamental +distaste for the idea of submission to some special system of discipline. +To all Protestants this is clear so far as the Catholic Church is +concerned. To many it is just as clear in relation to some of the +Protestant bodies. + +The official objections to the formation of federated churches involve no +questions of moral principle, but merely those of expediency and the +smooth running of existing ecclesiastical machinery. It is held by +certain officials that the federated church tends to promote autonomy in +the local congregations, and that it will impair the authority of the +denomination. But this increase of autonomy has already taken place in the +city churches, which, as a matter of practice, whatever the denominational +theory may be, manage their own affairs. There is here no loss to the +denomination, nor is there likely to be when the country churches are +strengthened by federation. + +In the long run the officials who now entertain objections to the +federated church will doubtless not permit them to stand in the way of +rural church progress. Particularly will this be true when a minister of +their own denomination is to be made pastor of the federated church. It +would seem wise, therefore, for the denominational authorities to agree +that when federated churches are formed the choice of pastors should be +made, so far as possible, on the basis of interdenominational reciprocity. + +In view of the urgent needs of the rural communities, as a rule, those +methods should be adopted which are most acceptable to the local people +whose interests are involved. When the people of a community come to +desire united Christian action in promoting community welfare, their zeal +will usually be strong enough to overcome the difficulties in the way. But +this desirable consummation is greatly retarded where opposition is made +by the denomination or its officials. Until the church officials and +denominations are able to propose some other practicable plan for the +readjustment of church life to community welfare, a plan which can be +carried out, the demands of the situation certainly require them to help +rather than hinder the movement for the formation of federated churches. +In any event they will not be able to stop it. + +In the investigation striking cases were found of denominational officials +opposing Christian unity in the mistaken belief that they were acting in +accord with the sentiment of their denominations. + +It has been reported to us that a certain denominational official has +tried in ten different communities to prevent interchurch cooperation, +although the local churches and the local people were for it. It might in +charity be contended that in nine of these it was not Christian +cooperation itself that was opposed, but rather the form of cooperation +embodied in a federated church. But in the tenth community it was clearly +Christian cooperation and not the form of it to which this official was +hostile, for the people of the two local churches were merely meeting +together, in union services on Sunday evenings, and for an occasional +communion service. No federation or organic union was contemplated. But +the old minister was removed, and a new minister was sent to the field +with definite instructions to break up what unity there was. These +instructions he carried out so thoroughly that the Christian forces in the +community were greatly reduced in effectiveness. + +In another community an official persistently tried to prevent the +formation of a federated church, although himself acknowledging that he +sincerely believed it was the very best thing that could be done for the +local people. From two other communities it was reported that this same +official was the only obstacle in the way of Christian unity. It is +entirely probable that in many other communities these denominational +officials have opposed Christian cooperation, for only incidentally did +the authors hear of the cases reported. + + +(9) _Nonsectarian Support_ + +To give strength to the movement for interchurch cooperation, a strong +interdenominational or undenominational backing is needed. On the part of +the higher leaders and officials there is no lack of genuine desire to +further interchurch cooperation. The same desire is shared by very large +numbers of the younger ministers who are properly trained for their +calling, and by many older ministers also. The movement, however, is often +halted because of a feeling that somewhere in the denomination there is a +strong sentiment against it. + +Faintheartedness is the greatest obstacle to cooperation between churches +at the present time. Numbers of actual instances could be given if it +were proper to do so. What is needed, therefore, is an active movement +between or outside of the denominations, to strengthen those officials who +hesitate to promote interchurch cooperation. Such a movement would finally +reveal the fact that the prevailing sentiment in the denominations is +really in favor of cooperation and not against it, and many who now oppose +it or refuse to help would become most valuable agents in promoting it. + +It must not be assumed that the day of denominations is past. Although, as +between most of the denominations, theological differences no longer +exist, and other differences between many of them are small, +denominational feeling is still dominant. The slight differences loom +large. Denominational officials for the most part feel that their chief +duty is to their denomination, from which they hold their official power; +and this duty is very absorbing. Hence it is often most difficult to gain +support from denominational authorities and churches for +interdenominational projects. + +Moreover, the direction of interdenominational organization, at the +present time, is largely in the hands of men who are responsible for +denominational interests, or the interests of other organizations which +require their wholehearted and undivided support. While the cooperation +and combined judgment of such men is invaluable in the wise direction of +interdenominational projects, in Ohio they fail as a driving force. This +is now the chief cause of weakness in the interdenominational movement for +church and country life in the State. + +Both the work for the country church and for the promoting of rural +business are rendered ineffective by lack of pecuniary support. In spite +of this, however, plans for progressive work both for rural business and +rural church are well developed, and have been tested; and moreover, the +feasibility of progress in both these lines of endeavor has been +thoroughly proved. Two things, then, are now required. These are funds and +federated or independent direction of their use. + +We may well expect that adequate funds will be given for carrying on this +work in the years immediately following the war. After the sacrifices of +war those of peace by comparison will not seem large--while the sacrifices +of both peace and war are equally necessary for the realization of the +high ideals which as Americans we cherish. + +This war as nothing else has done, has caused men in general to realize +that there are tasks for all other than the commercial enterprises of the +day, and that each of us must accept his share of the responsibility for +their performance. What is worth fighting for during the war is worth +working for after the war. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +FEDERATED CHURCHES + + +There are many rural communities in Ohio where the churches exert a vital +influence in community life, and where farm life succeeds in holding +families of moral, intellectual, and physical vigor. In some instances the +communities and their churches have not been seriously affected by the +modern conditions and tendencies which elsewhere are acting unfavorably +upon the country church and country life. In other instances, intelligent +leadership on the part of the ministers has overcome these conditions. +Many of these ministers highly appreciate the help they have received from +the modern country church movement, while not a few have testified that +without it they would have failed. + +In a very large part of rural Ohio the need of interchurch cooperation is +keenly realized. In the divided communities the people, for the most part, +want to get together, but they do not know how. But in many communities +practical methods have been found and tested, and by these methods +Christian cooperation has been brought to pass and the rural church +conditions have been greatly improved. For that reason descriptions of +actual successful cases of interchurch cooperation are here supplied. +These examples are intended to include federated churches, church +federations, and denominational union churches, as well as certain +striking cases of the work of the church in community service. The uniting +of Christian forces will not by itself alone insure rural church progress. +The new country church program must be added. In its absence, a real +advance appears to be impossible. + + +_Greene Township_ + +Greene Township, Trumbull County, is situated in northeastern Ohio, in the +Western Reserve. In 1900 it had a population of about 800 persons, in 1910 +about 100 less. Some of its residents are descended from the early +settlers from New England, others have recently moved in from western +sections of Ohio, while possibly 10 per cent are of foreign birth. That +its people have been somewhat progressive is indicated by the fact that it +was among the first three townships in the State to establish a +centralized school. + +Greene is not a rich township. It has no railroad. About 40 of its houses +are now vacant. Fields which formerly were producing good crops of wheat, +corn, and oats are now growing up to brush. The young men between 25 and +30 years of age who were going into farming before the war can be counted +on the fingers of one hand. It is probable, however, that a new era in +agriculture has begun. Quite recently drainage, and in some cases the +application of lime, have reclaimed much waste land. Still other land will +be treated in the same way and with equally good results. Doubtless, as +elsewhere, progressive country church work will greatly assist a general +movement in the township to secure abundant prosperity. + +In the geographical center of the township are two churches, Methodist +Episcopal and Disciples of Christ. These two are about equal in strength, +while in the northwestern part is a Baptist church with but three or four +families in its membership. The latter, however, supports a Sunday school +of 30 or 40 attendants. + +Formerly, three resident ministers lived in the community, but for twelve +years there had been none. The Baptist Church holds only occasional +preaching services, the Disciples have depended for their preaching upon +student supplies from a neighboring theological school, while the +ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church have lived outside the +township at North Bloomfield, five miles away, where there are Methodist +Episcopal, Disciples, and Congregational churches. The Methodist Episcopal +Church at Greene, therefore, was part of a circuit of two churches. + +As is usually the case among farming people of Ohio where there are no +resident ministers the people of Greene Township received very few +pastoral calls. Several families in the southeastern section of the +township have had little or no association with any ministers or churches. +Mr. Gill recently visited the township on a pleasant Sunday, and learned +that less than 30 of its 700 people that day went to church. + +As an indication that the churches of Greene Township have been losing +their hold on the people, it may be noted that an increasing number of +families do not ask clergymen to officiate at funerals. The undertaker +sometimes conducts a short service at the grave, or his wife reads a +prayer and passage of scripture. In view of immemorial custom, the absence +of a clergyman on such occasions is significant. + +The total amount of money contributed annually to the support of the +ministry in Greene Township has been not more than $600. Of this the +Methodist Episcopal Church paid its minister $300. The North Bloomfield +Church in an adjacent township paid him $500, so that the total salary of +the Methodist minister who gave part of his time to Greene Township was +$800. Obviously this is not enough to support a family and enable the +minister to keep a motor car or a horse. A large part of his time and +energy, therefore, was spent in walking from parish to parish and from +house to house through an area of 50 square miles. + +In January of 1917 a joint committee was appointed by the churches of +Greene Township to consider the questions of securing a resident pastor, +increasing the size of the Sunday school and congregation, and rendering +all other forms of service needed in the community. It was decided by this +committee that a federated church should be formed in which each +constituent ecclesiastical body would preserve its own identity. Each +church would independently meet its obligations to its own denomination in +all matters outside of the community, while all the members of the +churches would unite in local activities, including the support of a +resident minister. A country life institute was held to stimulate the +desire for community improvement, and the plan of church betterment was +set forth and adopted. + +To secure support for a minister, a thorough canvass was made by a +committee of six representing the three churches. As a result of its work +no less than $1,500 was subscribed. "Our results," wrote the chairman of +this committee, "have surpassed our brightest hopes. It is a genuine +pleasure to work for something that is going to help the whole community +and not just a part. I believe the interests of the Kingdom will be +advanced most where effort is united in rural communities. In our canvass +for funds we were surprised to find that the non-church people were not +willing that the churches should close their doors. In addition we found +they had a deeper interest in the church than we could possibly expect. +One old man, probably sixty-five, said that this was the first time he had +ever been asked to give to the support of a church. He added that he often +felt he would like to give. Many a man said he would double the amount of +his gift if it was necessary." + +A well-educated minister who has rendered nine successive years of +effective service in one community has been secured as pastor, and there +is now a most encouraging prospect of improvement in religious, moral, +social, and economic life. The increased giving in Greene Township has +also influenced the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in North +Bloomfield. They have pledged $800, instead of the former $500, for the +support of their minister, and expect to raise $1,000. Bloomfield Township +also hereafter will have the undivided service of a minister. + +As a result of this movement in Greene Township, therefore, four of the +churches of these two townships will hereafter pay from $2,300 to $2,500 +for the support of the ministry instead of $1,100 as hitherto, while two +communities will each have the full time service of a resident pastor. The +significance of this increase in the money support of the church will be +apparent to those who have studied modern rural church problems. The +failure of the rural churches to give a living wage, much less a working +salary, to their ministers has been one of the most discouraging facts in +the rural church situation. + +If the three churches of North Bloomfield should federate as those of +Greene Township have done, doubtless their people could raise $1,500 for +the support of the ministry. Again, if all the churches of both North +Bloomfield and Greene should federate it would be possible to employ a +single pastor of even higher grade with an assistant. An automobile could +be used effectively to cover both townships. In some cases, as in +Benzonia, Michigan, one minister with one or more assistants has been able +to get better results at less expense. The plan is worth trying. + + +_Aurora_ + +In the year 1913 in the village of Aurora, Portage County, there were two +churches, the Congregational and Disciples of Christ. They were small in +attendance and membership, and it was hard to get adequate support for the +ministers. The usual results of underpaying the ministry were not wanting. +As a preliminary step in the improvement of this situation an organization +of the men of the churches was formed to promote the general community +welfare. As in so many other cases, to bring the churches together in +cooperative service to the community was seen to be the only way to secure +a vigorous church life for Aurora. That led to the decision to form a +federated church under the leadership of one pastor. Under the plan +adopted, each church was to keep its denominational relations, contribute +to its denominational benevolences, and fulfill all denominational +obligations. But in Aurora, as in Greene Township, the people were to work +together as in one church. + +Owing to circumstances which were purely accidental, for the first year or +two the church was not very prosperous and the federation was only +partially successful. But after awhile the church began to take on life. +While at the beginning it was mutually understood that the arrangement was +to be tried for but two years, at the end of that time the desirability +of going back to the old way was not even discussed. So far as Mr. Gill +could learn in a visit to the community, the one and only one person who +still preferred the old way was a woman who had opposed the movement from +the start and had always held aloof from it. The opinion of the people is +now practically unanimous that both the community and the churches were +greatly benefited by the change. The first pastor of this church was of +the Disciples, the second a Presbyterian. + + +_Garrettsville_ + +Garrettsville is a prosperous community on the Erie Railroad between +Youngstown and Cleveland. Its thousand inhabitants are engaged partly in +farming, partly in manufacturing, and partly in supplying the various +daily needs of the people. Its good houses, electric lights, paved +streets, and trim sidewalks indicate progressiveness and community spirit. +Being progressive, the people not merely recognized the undesirability of +interchurch competition, but they were able to work out a plan whereby +they have largely avoided it. + +In April, 1916, there were four churches in the community, or on an +average one to 250 persons. The highest salary paid to its minister by any +of the churches was $800. Two of the other churches paid much smaller sums +and shared the service of their ministers with the churches of other +towns, while one of the pastors was the Educational Secretary of a Y. M. +C. A. in a town thirty miles away. The spirit of denominational rivalry +was in no respect different from that commonly found where there are too +many churches. When the pastor of the Congregational Church attempted to +organize a branch of the Boy Scouts of America for all the boys in the +community, he found that the members of the other churches feared he was +attempting to win the boys over to his church. For this reason he thought +it best to give up the enterprise. + +In 1914, an unsuccessful attempt was made to unite the Congregational +Church and the Disciples, and another to unite the Baptist and +Congregational churches. In 1916, however, under the influence of the +country church movement in Ohio, a successful effort was made to unite all +three of them. In the spring of that year these three churches were all +without pastors. They decided to hold union services and a Union Sunday +school during the summer. + +Upon trial the advantages of this arrangement became manifest. Not only +was the church attendance larger than the aggregate attendance in the +separate churches had ever been, but the Sunday school, formerly with +separate attendances of 65, 20, and 12, now had an attendance of 130. +Besides the added enthusiasm of greater numbers, it had better teachers, +better music, and a better Christian spirit. + +In September, 1916, it was decided by separate vote of each church to form +a permanent organization, which was incorporated with the name of "The +United Church," and included all who were members of any of the three +churches. No member was asked to alter any of his beliefs, and any +candidate for admission might choose his own mode of being received, +provided it was one used in some Evangelical church. Contributions for +missionary work were sent to denominational bodies indicated by the givers +or determined by a joint committee. For all local work the members were to +act as one body. A committee of the United Church chose as pastor a young +man of rural experience, a graduate of an eastern university and seminary, +whose denominational affiliation was regarded as of so little importance +that it was not even announced. + +The United Church of Garrettsville, after two years of experience, affords +religious opportunities and renders service to the people far beyond +anything the town could supply before the federation was made. + +While the three original churches remain intact, the main part of the +business of the church is done by the committee of the United Church. The +officials of the denominations of the three churches interested heartily +encourage the project. The united force of church workers from three +denominations has made a very efficient church. + +The United Church is the result of a desire of the people to be as +closely joined in their new church as they were in their different +denominational churches. Its motto is "In essentials, unity, in +non-essentials, liberty, in diversities, charity, in all things, Christ +first." It accepts the Scriptures as its sufficient rule of faith and +practice, interpreted in the light of fundamental agreements in +evangelical teaching, and in the spirit of its motto. Forms of ritual for +the sacrament, for the public services, and for admission into the church +are left to the decision of the minister, and are not provided for in the +regulations. It was desired to keep the forms of sectarianism too feeble +to be able to keep the people apart. Persons may join the United Church +without joining any of the three denominations represented by the original +constituent bodies. + +The Sunday school is well organized, and is testing its work by the +highest standard of Christian education. Its relation to the church is +very close. The young people have a Christian Endeavor Society. The +women's work is carried on by a most flourishing society under the name of +"The Community Circle," whose form of organization provides for taking +care of both local and missionary needs. At the first meeting of each +month, half of the time is given to local opportunities for service. The +general social life of the church is largely cared for by this society. + +The United Church has leased all the property of the old churches for a +term of years and cares for the church buildings. It has decided to build +a new community house for promoting the social life of the community and +general community interests, but has postponed it until after the war. In +the Articles of Incorporation one of the objects is regarded as the +support of such enterprises as tend to the more perfect development of the +children and young people spiritually, physically, morally, and socially. + +Representatives of the old churches usually go to the meetings of their +respective denominations, and are accompanied by such members of the +United Church as may wish to attend as visitors. Reports of the meetings +are made at meetings of the United Church. The pastor of the United Church +is also pastor of each of the three denominational churches and so far as +possible attends the district meetings of the denominational bodies in a +representative capacity and cares for the local denominational interests. +Public services and meetings are held in the Congregational Church +building because it is the largest and best equipped. A baptistry is now +being installed, and various uses are being found for the other buildings. + +It will be noted that the United Church of Garrettsville differs in some +respects from the ordinary federated church. + + +_Northfield_ + +In Northfield, Summit County, the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal +churches united by verbal agreement in a federated church on December 1, +1914. Written articles were adopted several months later. The pastor of +the federated church, Rev. J. M. Keck, has kindly given us the following +brief account: + +"The consent of the higher officials of each denomination was first +secured. Then the members of the local churches agreed to the following +plan: + +"The Presbyterians remain in the Cleveland Presbytery and the Methodists +in the Northeast Ohio Conference as before. The legal organization of each +local church continues intact. Each set of trustees has charge of its +property. The Presbyterian Church being the better located, is used for +worship, and the Methodist for dinners, etc. When a building needs +repairs, funds are raised from the entire congregation by voluntary +contributions. + +"The only additional organization is an Executive Committee, half +Presbyterians and half Methodists, which has charge of current expenses +and all matters relating to the congregation as a whole. An every-member +canvass for the local budget is made in which no account is taken of +church relations, no one but the treasurer knowing how much is contributed +by each denomination. Benevolent contributions are equally divided +between the denominational boards or applied to the Presbyterian or +Methodist funds as indicated on envelopes. + +"Persons desiring to unite with the church elect whether they are to be +Presbyterians or Methodists and are received accordingly. No one seems to +care in which they are enrolled, since they work in the same congregation +and contribute to the same funds. The order of public worship is a +modification of each of those formerly in use but retains the essential +features of both. + +"So far there has not been the slightest friction between the +denominations. No one seems to think of ever going back to the old way. + + +WHAT THE PRESBYTERIANS GAINED + +"1. A church was saved for the denomination which in time would probably +have been forced to disband. + +"2. Several hundred dollars of home missionary money was saved annually +which had been expended in Northfield to keep the church open and alive. +Under the federation it is not needed. + +"3. Offerings are made to the various boards and interests of +Presbyterianism. + + +WHAT THE METHODIST CONFERENCE GAINED + +"1. A church was saved that doubtless would have been closed in a few +years for want of support. + +"2. The salary of the pastor has been increased and also the stipends of +the district superintendent, the bishops, conferences, and claimants. + +"3. The contributions to all boards and benevolences have been increased. + + +WHAT THE COMMUNITY GAINED + +"1. Federation saves paying two pastors and keeping two church buildings +when one is sufficient. It makes the public more willing to aid. + +"2. The congregation being more than doubled, there is more enthusiasm and +willingness to work. + +"3. It has silenced the criticism that the churches are competing instead +of cooperating. + +"4. The economic and fraternal features of federation appeal to the public +and bring into line people who did not patronize either church before." + + +_Federated Churches in Other States_ + +More churches have been federated in New England than in any other section +of the United States. Familiarity with the success or failure of these +churches is therefore necessary to a reasonably full discussion of +interchurch cooperation. Accordingly information blanks were sent to a +number of these federated churches. The inquiries were expressed as +follows: + +1. Date of Federation? + +2. Denominations of constituent bodies? + +3. Membership of each church at the time of federation? + +4. Denomination of the first minister and of succeeding ministers? + +5. Do the people like the present arrangement better than the old? + +6. Do many people want to go back to the old way? + +7. Have church benevolences declined or increased? + +8. How has the pecuniary support of the ministry been affected? + +9. How have other expenditures of the church been affected? + +10. Has attendance declined or increased? + +11. Has church membership declined or increased? + +12. What effect, if any, has the formation of the federated church had +upon the social life of the community? + +13. Kindly express frankly your opinion of the federated church as a means +of securing Christian unity and church efficiency. + +Fifteen churches replied. In these fifteen federated churches were +thirteen Congregational churches, nine Methodist Episcopal, seven +Baptist, and one Universalist. The Universalist was federated with a +Congregational church, two federated churches were made up of Baptist and +Methodist, five of Baptist and Congregational, seven of Methodist +Episcopal and Congregational. + +The first ministers of four of the federated churches were Baptists, of +five, Methodist Episcopal, and of five, Congregational. + +One of the churches had had an experience of sixteen years, one of eleven, +two of eight, two of six, two of five, two of four, two of three, three of +two, making the average experience of the fifteen federated churches more +than five years. + +Of the fifteen answers to question 5, thirteen said that the people liked +the present arrangement better than the old, while the other two said +there were not many people who wanted to go back to the old way. + +In reply to question 7, eight declared that the benevolences had +increased, three that they had remained the same, one said benevolences +varied in different years, while in three the benevolences had declined. +In one of these the decline was very slight and there was a prospect of an +increase in the future. + +In thirteen the support of the ministry has been favorably affected by the +federation. From one the answer is ambiguous. In the case of Truro, +Massachusetts, where one church had a membership of three and the other of +eight, at the time of federation, the answer indicates a decrease in the +amount given to the salary. + +The answers to question 9 indicate that the running expenditures of the +churches are often less and that the money is more easily raised to meet +them. + +To question 10, nine of the answers denoted an increased attendance, five +no noticeable change. No church reported a decrease. In one case the +answer was obscure. + +The answers to question 11 report that eight have increased in membership, +five have remained stationary, one reports normal additions, and one a +slight decrease. + +In answer to question 12, twelve churches reported a favorable effect upon +the social life of the community, two recently formed reported that there +was no marked effect yet, while one gave no answer. All but one of the +correspondents cherish a strong opinion that the federated church is the +best arrangement when a community is overchurched and the churches are +small. One pastor of a federation had nothing to say. + +The following are the replies to the request made at the end of the +questionnaire, "Kindly express frankly your opinion of the federated +church as a means of securing Christian unity and church efficiency": + +1. "Nothing to say." + +2. "I do not see any reasons why two or more churches of Congregational +form of government should not federate, but it would be difficult to +federate with Episcopal form of church government." + +3. "The efficiency here has been greater since these churches federated +than it was before. No church could support a pastor. The Baptist Church +had been pastorless for three and a half years. The Congregational Church +was supplied by students from Hartford Theological Seminary. Now they pay +a fair salary and give free use of parsonage. Federation is the best +solution of overchurched communities." + +4. "The federated church should be adopted in rural communities and in +many small cities. I see no other way to bring the church into its place +as a social and religious power." + +5. "It is my opinion that for a community that is like this one a +federated church is a great means to secure Christian unity and +efficiency. At our last meeting there were but two who were not +enthusiastic for its continuance. Our field here would be much better if +there were not another church in the community outside the federation. +There is still the Unitarian Church outside the federation which +necessarily makes a divided leadership in the small community. Our +federated church has grown from two small churches to the position of +dominance in the community. Our decrease in benevolences is largely +explainable and excusable perhaps in that it occurred during the time when +there were so many other things to take care of, relative to the +federation. It will not happen again, but for a part of the time we were +without a pastor and during the rest of the time exceedingly busy getting +things adjusted." + +6. "We are thoroughly satisfied. Each church in denominational +relationship (the Methodist Episcopal and Congregational) is as +independent and well organized as before federation. Each church is +stronger than before federation. We look forward to the day when +federation will be the rule in overchurched communities for the sake of +the good of church and community rather than from pecuniary necessity." +This opinion was expressed after an experience of sixteen years of the +federated church. + +7. "Having been pastor of the federated church in Somerset for three years +I am glad to be able to say that I unqualifiedly recommend federation as a +solution of the overchurched problem in country and village. Wherever +there are genuine Christian members, federation will work perfectly." + +8. "It is a great help in small places." + +9. "Our federation has been a great success. Perfect harmony seems to +reign." + +10. "A strong church can do better work alone, but two or more weak +churches should unite in the support of one minister. A federated church +gives opportunity for denominational loyalty and connections. This is +important." + +11. "This is a small town, only about 435 population, but it is a summer +resort and during the months of July and August a great many city people +attend church. I am pastor of this church and North Thetford, another +federated church about five miles south. It is about the only way these +churches could be run, for both are small places." + +12. "This federated church is in a flourishing condition. During the +present pastorate since May, 1914, 31 have been received into the church. +The building has been remodeled at a cost of about $3,500, all paid but +$300.00." + +13. "It is the most efficient means of securing Christian unity and church +efficiency ever discovered. It is the ideal way." + +14. "I am convinced of the sincerity of Christian unity and of the +possibility of church efficiency, but it has not really approached that +reality any more than some denominational churches have in rural centers. +But it is a wholesome and generally satisfactory plan of religious service +in a community of changing personnel. In the community is quite a large +Catholic element and also a very progressive and influential Universalist +element. This remains in our midst practically unassimilated as yet, after +a dozen years with no services in their church. The children are coming +into the Sunday school pretty well and time will overcome some of these +obstacles." + +15. "It is the reasonable and only possible means in this and many other +communities in Cape Cod, but it needs energy and aggressive effort to +succeed." + +In the face of the fact that a very large proportion of denominational +rural churches are on the decline, the experience of these fifteen +churches constitutes very strong evidence that the federated church is a +practical means of securing Christian unity and increased church +efficiency in small overchurched communities. + +In order to learn whether or not it is true that only the more successful +churches replied to the questionnaire, we have by other means secured +information in regard to certain churches which did not reply. Some of +them were found to be as successful as those which did. For example, the +federated church of North Wilbraham, Massachusetts, the constituent bodies +of which are Methodist Episcopal and Congregational churches, has greatly +increased in membership, attendance, and in the influence it exerts for +various kinds of progress in its community. It would be very difficult to +find any country church, either denominational or federated, whose record +for service is better. + +In two cases in New England where the federated church has failed, it was +reported that the pastors regarded the federated church as a temporary +expedient and tried hard to change it into a denominational church. Such +action would necessarily be regarded as a breach of faith on the part of +one of the churches, and disaster might well be expected to follow. The +authors know of no experience which indicates any inherent weakness in the +federated church, nor so far as they are aware is there any evidence that +a federated church has injured the denomination of any component church. +On the contrary, a very large majority of the small churches which have +united with others in such federation have gained rather than lost, with a +resulting benefit to each denomination concerned. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +OTHER PROGRESSIVE CHURCHES + + +1. _A Church Federation_ + +In the village of Shiloh in Richland County are two churches, Lutheran and +Methodist Episcopal, each supporting a resident pastor. Each seems to be +strong enough to sustain alone its ordinary activities. For this and other +reasons there has been no desire to unite the churches into one +congregation. But they had both neglected to provide means of meeting many +of the community's needs, such as opportunities for social life, +recreation, and athletics, or to stimulate others to make provision for +them. As usual under such conditions, gambling and other amusements of a +questionable sort became more or less common. In order the better to look +after the needs of the young people and to strengthen the moral life of +the community, a committee representing both of the churches was appointed +to provide and carry out a program for the community welfare. + +One of the features of this program is a successful movement for the +promotion of the social, athletic, and play life of this and neighboring +communities. The life of the neighborhood has been made more attractive, +especially for the young people, while some of the forms of petty vice +have disappeared. Union services are frequently held by the two churches. +In every way their work is becoming more effective. + +This form of cooperative organization may be called a church federation, +but it should be distinguished from the federated church, which is the +union of two or more churches into a single congregation. In every rural +community where it is neither feasible nor desirable to unite all the +churches under the leadership of one pastor, a church federation should +be formed to create conditions favorable to the development of Christian +character, to hold community religious services and social gatherings, and +to render all forms of social service which are needed in the community, +but are not rendered by other institutions. + + +2. _Cooperation with Other Social Forces_ + +Where there are social organizations other than school and church it often +happens that the churches can get better results by working with them. An +example of this kind of cooperation may be found in White Cottage, Newton +Township, Muskingum County. Here the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal +Church made a thorough survey of the community in an area which included +four churches. He then prepared a sermon on the much needed country life +movement, and sent a personal letter to every family in the area covered +by the survey, inviting its members to come and hear his sermon. Large +numbers responded. Then a mass meeting was called to discuss the +situation, and the results of the survey were set forth. A committee was +appointed to draw up a constitution for a community betterment +organization. At a second mass meeting it was adopted. Under it every +member of the community became a member of the association. Every social +organization in the community was given equal representation on the +Executive Committee, which has standing committees on programs and +publicity, on religion and social service, on education, on recreation and +physical culture, and on finance. + +A general cleaning up of the community followed. An unsightly square was +transferred into an attractive playground, where every Saturday afternoon +there was basket ball, volley ball, croquet, tennis, track athletics, or +baseball. A library and public reading room was opened, a temperance +program was adopted, farmers' institutes were established, and lectures on +agriculture and home economics were given, together with a Chautauqua +course of lectures for winter and summer, and a series of home talent +plays. There were three holiday picnics each summer, and field day +exercises with a parade, platform meetings, and a community dinner. + +Other results of this movement are a fine new school building with a large +auditorium, and greatly improved roads. Moreover, a favorable reaction has +been felt in the churches. Whereas, formerly but 37-1/2 per cent of the +population were church attendants, now there are 58 per cent; where +formerly 40 per cent of the people went to Sunday school, now there are 52 +per cent. The whole community shows a higher moral tone. + +While the churches at White Cottage were not united in any organic way, +yet a spirit of Christian unity was brought about. The very best of +feeling exists among the different churches, and their members work +together gladly in community improvement. As the result of such an +atmosphere the evils of overchurching are reduced to a minimum, and it +becomes easier to bring about such reorganization as may be for the best +religious and social welfare of the community. + +Organizations of cooperating rural social forces, like that at White +Cottage, for many years have been doing good work in other states, both +East and West. In large numbers of communities, particularly where the +churches cannot be federated, or where bitter feeling has resulted from +interchurch competition, the best method of progress is often to bring +about such a cooerdination of forces in the service of the community +itself. + + +3. _Community Service and Christian Unity_ + +Ashley, in Delaware County, is a town of about 600 inhabitants. Here a +resident pastor's desire to serve his community resulted in Christian +unity. Twelve years ago there were four competing churches, poorly +attended and struggling for existence. Camp meetings of a fanatical sect +were often held in the neighborhood. In the churches of the town seasons +of protracted meetings were characterized by excessive emotion at the +time, but by few permanent good results. While respect for religion is +necessary to a high degree of moral and social life in any country +community, a large proportion of the people in Ashley no longer respected +the church because of the character of its religious activities. Many of +the most influential citizens even doubted whether the church was good for +the community or not. High ideals were conspicuously lacking among the +young people, and disorderly conduct was beginning to appear. + +In the year 1907 the Methodist Episcopal Church acquired a pastor who by +nature and training was well equipped for his work. Fortunately he was the +only resident minister in the town, where he remained for nearly ten +years. As the result of his leadership the whole community now has a high +regard for religion and the church, while a practical Christian unity has +been brought about and interchurch competition has disappeared. The moral +and religious atmosphere of the place has become wholesome. + +Community life has been made attractive through special instruction and +entertainment, social gatherings, athletics, and all kinds of healthy +amusement. + +There still are two churches, but one of them meets not oftener than once +a month, is attended by only two or three families, and has ceased to be a +factor in the life of the community. The other church is well attended and +is generally recognized as the community church. The members of the two +churches which have dropped out have, for the most part, united with it, +while the building of one of them has become the gymnasium of the +community church. + +Though the work of this successful pastor was begun before the modern +country life and country church movement had been developed, his program +and methods of work in no way differ from those which are common to the +nation-wide movement. In fact large numbers of country pastors, widely +scattered over the United States, entirely independent of one another or +of the literature of any special movement, have made and carried out +programs for church and community betterment which in their essentials are +substantially alike. The pastors have all studied the needs of their +communities and have tried to meet them. Similarity of needs in the +different communities has naturally resulted in the adoption of similar +programs. + +The pastor who did at Ashley the work just described began by making a +thorough study of his parish. He then led the young people into active +work for their community, and later on stimulated the older men to do +their part also, until finally it became recognized in Ashley that the +duty of the Christian and the church is not to work mainly for the church, +but mainly for the common welfare and the development of all the people. + +This minister never emphasized any form of sectarianism. He thought of +himself as pastor of the whole town and countryside rather than of his +church alone, so that whatever he did was entirely free from the spirit of +competition. The people did not fail to recognize his aims, and, in +consequence, were satisfied with his leadership. Thus it became possible +for him and his church to work to satisfy the needs of all the people. The +Presbyterians and Friends, therefore, willingly joined his church and gave +up their own. But if in speech or deed he had attempted to build up his +own church at the expense of the others, there would undoubtedly be four +churches in Ashley to-day. + +The Ashley community church secured the creation of a community library, +itself provided a community reading room, gave special attention to the +day school and its teachers, held each year free university extension +lectures on agriculture and home economics, lectures on sanitation and +prevention of diseases, gave socials and festivals, promoted athletics, +maintained a church gymnasium, and formed farmers' clubs and helped them +in their work. Though there were lodges in Ashley which held occasional +gatherings, still the church was generally recognized as the institution +which supplied the opportunities for social life for the whole community. +The church became preeminently the most democratic and most popular +institution in the town. + +Simplicity of organization was the aim of the pastor. Sunday school +classes, including a men's Bible class, were organized, and were +stimulated to do their best to meet the social and other needs of the +community. So well did they do their work that other organizations were +found to be unnecessary. One unusual feature of the pastor's work was the +combining of the Bible school session on Sunday morning with the service +of the church, making one service of worship, at which communion is +administered and members are received. + +No collections are taken up in the church, but a budget is made at the +beginning of the year and the money is raised through a church committee. +Contributions for benevolences have been greatly increased during this +pastorate, and large sums have been spent for building and improvements. +Yet nevertheless the community did not furnish adequate support for its +pastor, undoubtedly because as in the case of nearly all pastors, he +refused to work for an increase in his own salary, while, as in nearly all +small communities, no one else took the matter up. In this respect, +therefore, the people acted unjustly towards their minister. + +It should be noted that the minister was well trained and of high +character; that he lived in the community he served; that he was given a +long term of service; and that he cherished a right conception of the work +of minister and church. + +Such work as this is badly needed in multitudes of communities in Ohio. It +is the only thing that can preserve or restore their wholesomeness and +make them suitable places for the rearing of children. The church, as a +whole, should spare no effort in providing large numbers of such men to do +this kind of work, for the total result of so doing would be an increase +of untold value in the strength of the very foundations of Christian +civilization in America. + + +4. _Christian Unity by Necessity_ + +In Ontario, Springfield Township, Richland County, there were three +churches,--Presbyterian, United Presbyterian, and Methodist Episcopal. +Because many of the best families had left, the Presbyterian churches have +held no regular services since the year 1900. For a time the Methodist +Episcopal Church shared a resident minister with three or four other +churches, but from 1912 Springfield Township was left without a resident +minister for three years. Under these circumstances it was inevitable that +social and moral decline should begin, for the modern community's needs +cannot be met by the old-fashioned circuit system. More and more the +better families moved away or relapsed into the background, and the less +moral elements became conspicuous. A dance hall became the haunt of +disorderly people from neighboring towns. Drunkenness grew apace, while +bad language on the streets was altogether too common. Pilfering the +property of the railroad was more or less open. It was high time to act. + +Accordingly, the people of all the denominations and the non-church people +who lived in the township, realizing that it was going from bad to worse, +joined in deciding that a resident minister was necessary. Money was +raised, and the future support of a minister was promised if the Methodist +Episcopal Conference would send them a good man. + +The new minister began his work in the autumn of 1915. The total budget of +the church had been about $500, of which less than $250 went to the +minister's salary. During his first year, $1,540 was raised, $900 of which +went for the support of the minister. In the second year no less than +$7,500 was raised, $1,000 for the minister's salary, $540 for ordinary +expenses, while the rest went to the permanent repairs on the church +buildings. + +As in Ashley, so in Springfield Township; the pastor regarded his church +as a community church and thought of himself as a Christian rather than as +a sectarian. The attendance more than doubled both at the church services +and at the Sunday school, while the real membership increased from less +than 100 to 315. When the Presbyterians saw the manifest good that could +be brought by united Christian action, they became members of the +Methodist Episcopal Church, while later on they made a Christmas present +of their building to the Methodist community church. It is now used as the +house of worship, while the Methodist Church has become a gymnasium and +parish house. + +Under the leadership of the new resident minister a genuine cleaning up of +the gross indecency was made, some of the most harmful characters left, +and the place became comparatively orderly. The village has been +transformed from a rural slum to a very decent community,--a safe place to +bring up children. This better state of things will undoubtedly continue +as long as the present system of church work prevails. + +The plan of this church's work did not differ from that of many other +modern country churches. It included Sunday school classes organized for +social service, athletics, including basket ball, a full program of social +activities, lectures to promote an intelligent interest in agriculture, +and active interest on the part of the minister in cooperating with the +day schools and providing opportunities for intellectual advancement. + +The pastor declares that the work in Springfield Township was made +possible only because he could live in the community, because he could +give his whole time to this field, and because of the program of country +church service with which, through the Conference of the Commission on +Church and Country Life which was held in Columbus in 1915 and through +modern country church literature, he had become familiar. He asserts that +without the modern program and conception of the function of the country +church, success would have been impossible. + + +5. _The Church as a Force for Righteousness_ + +In the work at Ashley and Ontario we have seen the adoption of a good +program accompanied by improvement in the moral tone and religious +atmosphere of the communities. There are many other communities where a +similar program has been carried out, with the same results. These cases +constitute a fairly conclusive demonstration that the varied community +life which is stimulated and made possible by the modern country church +program is the normal one, and that without these various activities +general moral and religious health is impossible. + +The leadership of a modern country church minister brought about just +such an improvement in the community life of Old Fort. This pastor came to +realize the needs of his community by taking part in the Ohio Rural Life +Survey. One direct result of his work is a centralized agricultural high +school, which will become the means of keeping the best families on the +land instead of letting them move to the larger towns in search of better +schools for the children. Once gone they rarely return. + +The young men of Old Fort, who formerly had little to do with the church, +are now active in its work. Special attention has been given, in a +neighboring parish served by the same minister, to the farm laborers and +tenants. Whereas formerly these people rarely went to church, now as large +a proportion of them take part in the activities of the church as of any +other class. This is an achievement of real importance. It appears from +Map 12, which is based on data from the United States Census, that, in no +less than 54 of the 88 counties of Ohio, more than 25 per cent of the +farms in the year 1910 were operated by tenants. On Map 13 it appears that +in no less than 50 counties the number of farms operated by tenants is +increasing. Here is one of the great obstacles in the way of church +progress in the State, for it is well known that farm tenants usually take +little interest in the community where they live, while only a small +proportion of them are members of the church. Until reform in the system +of land tenure can be brought to pass through legislation, it is most +important that the church shall give special attention to the tenant +families. + + +[Illustration: MAP 12 SHOWING BY COUNTIES PERCENTAGE OF ALL FARMS OPERATED +BY TENANTS] + +[Illustration: MAP 13 SHOWING INCREASE (+) OR DECREASE (-) PER CENT IN +NUMBER OF FARMS OPERATED BY TENANTS YEARS 1900-1910] + + +Success in this parish, according to the testimony of the minister, is due +to the program brought to light by the modern country church movement. +Indeed, we have observed no notably progressive country churches in small +communities where the new country church program has not been an essential +factor of success. Lakeville is a case in point. + +In the village of Lakeville, as in a large proportion of Ohio rural +communities, opportunities for wholesome recreation were few. The church +not only felt no responsibility for providing a better environment for the +young people, but looked upon matters which have to do with recreation, +entertainment, and physical development as foreign to it. To give them +attention was regarded as beneath its dignity. This attitude, both here +and in a large proportion of the rural churches, has been responsible in +no small degree for a general moral laxness in communities, and often for +the separation of the young people from the church. + +The moral and social conditions in Lakeville have been revolutionized by a +resident minister in three years. His conception of his work and the +methods he used did not differ materially from those of the pastors of +Ashley, Ontario, and Old Fort. Every wholesome feature of community life +was regarded by him as a matter of interest to the church. Thus, to +promote a deeper interest in agriculture, lecturers and demonstrators upon +various phases of it were invited into the community. + +Under the leadership of this minister a wholesome, normal, interesting +life, leading to the high development of the young people, and a marked +increase in the general happiness of the community, has been brought to +pass. The excellent auditorium of the consolidated school was made the +social center of the community. The pastor and the members of his church +were the initiators and chief supporters of the program of recreation, +instruction, and entertainment which was carried out largely in this +building. Although in Lakeville the church wisely kept itself in the +background in much of its work, its activities were none the less +effective, while this policy also reacted favorably upon the church +itself. + +Although there were two churches yoked together in this field, they were +but a mile and a half apart, and the parish was therefore compact. +Consequently the pastor could and did make much of his pastoral work. The +close touch of the minister with the members of his church and community +greatly added to the effectiveness of the evangelistic services which he +held, for he befriended those who had need of friends. Hence there was not +only a large increase in membership, but the results of it promised to be +of a durable character. + +It will be noted that the minister was pastor of all the churches in the +community and so encountered none of the difficulties which come from +interchurch competition. + +The kind of community service which is illustrated at Ashley, Ontario, Old +Fort, White Cottage, and Lakeville offers abundant opportunity to a young +man of good equipment for using his knowledge and native ability, and +should therefore attract a better type of man to the rural ministry. The +church as a whole should be active in presenting it to young men, for the +purpose of getting the best of them to enlist in it. The conservation of +the high character of our rural population depends on just such work. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION A MUCH NEEDED SECULAR ORGANIZATION + + +No program for the conservation and improvement of rural life will succeed +unless it provides for the successful promotion of cooperative +agricultural business organization. Even if all the reforms we have +suggested are made, the need to stimulate, assist, and guide the business +organization of farmers will still remain. Strong modern country churches +will not flourish in unprogressive communities whose business is not +successful. + +Rural business must be effectively organized to enable the farmers to get +a just money return for the service they give. A sound economic basis for +a more attractive rural life can be provided in no other way. Through +training and experience in successful cooperative enterprises, farmers may +achieve a greater degree of solidarity, and acquire a larger share in the +direction and control of industrial, political, and economic life of the +Nation. With it will come larger respect for rural occupations, an added +prestige and attractiveness to agricultural life, and the chance of real +success for the modern country church. + +The field of agricultural cooperation cannot be filled by any government +agency. However excellent the provisions of the Smith-Lever bill, under +which an agricultural adviser will be placed in every county in the United +States, however valuable the instruction and advice of the State +Agricultural Colleges, when the Government and the churches have done all +that can reasonably be expected of them, the task of organizing rural +business will remain undone until it is accomplished by the farmers +themselves, acting through associations of their own which are formally +allied with neither church nor government. + +Conclusive evidence on this point is supplied by more than fifty years of +experience in Europe, and by somewhat less in the United States. Within +the past five years an attempt to promote cooperative agricultural +business organization has been made by the National Government. It failed, +in general, because the Government cannot successfully undertake such +work, and in particular because special interests which were making large +profits by the exploitation of farmers had laws passed which effectually +defeated the attempt. Within the past three years agricultural agents of +the Government in Ohio who attempted to promote a cooperative movement +among farmers were forced by similar interests to abandon the work or +leave the county where they were employed. It is well known that the +faculties of certain State Agricultural colleges, though fully aware of +the need for sound cooperative agricultural business, do not attempt to +give instructions in its principles because of the effective opposition +they anticipate from persons and corporations whose business makes their +interests hostile to those of the farmer. + +If the Government cannot meet the whole need, no more can the churches. +Business cooperation, which they should encourage but cannot supply, is +indispensable. For more than fifty years churches and clergymen in Europe +have been rendering most effective service in the promotion of cooperative +agricultural organization in business. In America likewise they can and +should be of essential help in the same good work, for the principles of +successful agricultural business are in close harmony with Christian +ethics. Moreover, the social and moral effects of cooperative business on +communities and individuals are of a most favorable character. In the year +1913 Mr. Gill was present at a meeting of representatives of government +agricultural departments of fifteen nations, where it was asserted that +agricultural cooperation was the application of Christianity to the +business of the farm. + +Rural business, however, should not be organically allied with the church +any more than it should be with the State. While the ministers and +churches may do much to educate the farmers in regard to cooperation, to +interpret it, to increase the good results of it, and in many ways give +valuable assistance to it, the movement for cooperation can only be made +successful when promoted by voluntary secular organizations entirely +independent both of church and state. + +Cooperation is most needed where the people are poorest. In such districts +it is easiest to inaugurate it, and then by demonstration to show the high +and important character of its benefits. From the poorer regions it tends +to spread into the richer ones and in this way to diffuse itself widely. + +Not long ago it was found that farmers in Pike County were selling their +eggs to merchants for 16 cents a dozen when in the towns nearby the market +price was 25 cents. Almost the entire potato crop of this county in 1916 +was handled by middlemen at a profit of more than 100 per cent. Fruit +raising could be made most profitable in large parts of Ohio which at +present are not prosperous, but without cooperative organization the +difficulty of marketing fruit is very great. In the purchase of farm +implements, fertilizers, and other supplies, great savings to the farmers +are undoubtedly possible. + +There are few regions where cooperative organization is more needed, and +would be more likely to succeed, if properly directed, than in +southeastern Ohio. It would not only increase the economic prosperity of +this region, but it would exert also a most wholesome moral and social +effect, whereby the work of the church would be accelerated. The constant +application of the principles of brotherhood in everyday business is an +influence of the highest value, and it cannot safely be neglected as a +means for the Christianizing of rural society. + + + + +PART II + +TABULAR SUMMARIES AND MAPS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE DENOMINATIONS + + +It appears that of the 6,060 churches in the 1,170 strictly rural +townships of Ohio no less than 1,793, or nearly 30 per cent, are of the +Methodist Episcopal denomination (see Table D and Maps 14-25); 521 are of +the United Brethren in Christ; 396 are Presbyterian; 379 are Baptist, +including Free Will, Free, and Missionary; 367 Disciples; 362 Lutheran; +248 Roman Catholic; 228 Christian; 211 Methodist Protestant; 175 Reformed; +135 Congregational; 129 Evangelical Association; 113 Brethren or German +Baptists; 95 Radical United Brethren; 92 Christian Union; 84 Societies of +Friends; and 77 United Presbyterian. None of the other denominations has +more than 1 per cent of the total number. + +The denominations are represented in about the same proportion in the +suburban rural districts. + + +TABLE D + +NUMBER OF CHURCHES IN EACH DENOMINATION + + Key: + 1 _Strictly rural townships_ + 2 _Per cent_ + 3 _Other rural sections_ + 4 _Per cent_ + 5 _All rural churches_ + 6 _Per cent_ + + Denomination 1 2 3 4 5 6 + + Total 6060 100 582 100 6642 100 + Methodist Episcopal 1793 29.6 171 29.4 1964 29.6 + United Brethren in Christ 521 8.6 81 13.9 602 9.1 + Presbyterian 396 6.5 29 5. 425 6.4 + Baptist (Including Free, Free + Will and Missionary) 379 6.2 26 4.4 405 6.1 + Disciples of Christ 367 6. 20 3.4 387 5.9 + Lutheran 362 6. 49 8.4 411 6.2 + Catholic (Roman) 248 4.1 17 2.9 265 4. + Christian 228 3.8 20 3.4 248 3.7 + Methodist Protestant 211 3.5 19 3.3 230 3.5 + Reformed (Including + German Reformed) 175 2.9 26 4.4 201 3. + Congregational 135 2.2 12 2.1 147 2.2 + Evangelical Association 129 2.6 14 2.4 143 2.2 + Brethren (German Baptist) 113 1.9 14 2.4 127 1.9 + Radical United Brethren 95 1.6 9 1.5 104 1.6 + Christian Union 92 1.5 4 Less 96 1.4 + than 1 + Friends 84 1.4 8 1.4 92 1.4 + United Presbyterian 77 1.3 9 1.5 86 1.3 + Mennonite 56 Less 9 1.5 65 Less + than 1 than 1 + Church of God 54 " 8 1.4 62 " + German Evangelical 48 " 1 Less 49 " + than 1 + African and all Colored + Methodist Episcopal 40 " 2 " 42 " + Union 40 " 10 1.7 50 " + Protestant Episcopal 39 " 2 Less 41 " + than 1 + Universalist 39 " 0 " 39 " + Colored Baptist 38 " 3 " 41 " + Disciples Non-Progressive 32 " 1 " 33 " + Free Methodist 27 " 5 " 32 " + German Methodist Episcopal 27 " 0 " 27 " + United Evangelical 27 " 2 " 29 " + Holiness 25 " 6 1 31 " + { Old Order + Brethren { Progressive 21 " 3 " 24 " + { River + Primitive Baptist 21 " 0 " 21 " + Wesleyan Methodist 18 " 0 " 18 " + Seventh Day Advent 13 " 0 " 13 " + Advent-Christian 12 " 0 " 12 " + Calvinist Methodist 12 " 1 " 13 " + Reformed Presbyterian 8 " 0 " 8 " + Latter Day Saints 6 " 0 " 6 " + Nazarene 5 " 0 " 5 " + Saints 5 " 0 " 5 " + United Baptist 5 " 0 " 5 " + Christian Missionary Alliance 4 " 0 " 4 " + Greek Catholic 4 " 0 " 4 " + Moravian 4 " 0 " 4 " + Christian Science 3 " 0 " 3 " + International Bible + Students, Association 3 " 0 " 3 " + Federated 3 " 0 " 3 " + Missionary Church Association 2 " 0 " 2 " + Pietist 1 " 0 " 1 " + Primitive Methodist 1 " 0 " 1 " + Russian Catholic 1 " 0 " 1 " + Seven Sleepers 1 " 0 " 1 " + Seventh Day Baptist 1 " 0 " 1 " + Slavic Lutheran 1 " 0 " 1 " + Wengerite 1 " 0 " 1 " + Brothers Society of America 0 " 1 " 1 " + Denomination not reported 7 " 0 " 7 " + + +[Illustration: MAP 14 METHODIST EPISCOPAL COUNTRY CHURCHES] + +[Illustration: MAP 15 UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST] + +[Illustration: MAP 16 PRESBYTERIAN] + +[Illustration: MAP 17 BAPTIST] + +[Illustration: MAP 18 DISCIPLES OF CHRIST] + +[Illustration: MAP 19 LUTHERAN] + +[Illustration: MAP 20 CATHOLIC] + +[Illustration: MAP 21 CHRISTIAN] + +[Illustration: MAP 22 METHODIST PROTESTANT] + +[Illustration: MAP 23 REFORMED] + +[Illustration: MAP 24 CONGREGATIONAL] + +[Illustration: MAP 25 EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION] + + +In Table E the Protestant churches are grouped according to their polity. +It will be seen that about 1,600 have a Congregational form of government, +in which authority rests in the local church; that in nearly 1,200 +churches the polity is Presbyterian, in which authority is largely in the +local church, but partly in a representative body of several churches +grouped in districts. Under the title of "Episcopal Bodies" are grouped +denominations comprising 2,721 churches, or more than the total number of +the Presbyterian and Congregational combined. + +The Methodist Protestant Churches are not placed in either of these groups +because their polity resembles, in some respects, that of the +Congregational and in others that of the Episcopal churches. Authority +with them rests largely in the local church, which owns its property and +has authority to receive and dismiss its own members, but in other +respects resembles closely the churches of the Episcopal order. In the +fourth group are 82 other churches or religious organizations which we +have failed to classify. The Catholic bodies, including Greek and Russian, +number 253. + +Differences as to church polity are not sufficiently great to constitute a +dangerous obstacle to the progress of church unity among the Protestant +rural churches of Ohio. Our system of universities and public schools, +together with the custom of reading religious articles, books, and other +literature without regard to the denomination of the author, is tending to +remove theological differences as between denominations. It may be said it +has already removed them in the eleven denominations represented in the +Committee of Interchurch Cooperation. This is true whatever differences +may still exist between individuals. + + +TABLE E + +CHURCHES GROUPED ACCORDING TO THEIR POLITY + + +CONGREGATIONAL BODIES + + Total 1,601 + Baptist, including Free, Free Will and Missionary 379 + Disciples 367 + Christian 228 + Congregational 135 + Christian Union 92 + Friends 84 + Mennonite 56 + Church of God 54 + Union 40 + Universalist 39 + Colored Baptist 38 + Disciples, Non-Progressive 32 + Primitive Baptist 21 + Seventh Day Advent 13 + Advent Christian 12 + United Baptist 5 + Nazarene 5 + Seventh Day Baptist 1 + + +PRESBYTERIAN BODIES + + Total 1,192 + Presbyterian 396 + Lutheran 362 + Reformed, including German Reformed 175 + Brethren (German Baptist) 113 + United Presbyterian 77 + German Evangelical 48 + Calvinist Methodist 12 + Reformed Presbyterian 8 + Slavic Lutheran 1 + + +EPISCOPAL BODIES + + Total 2,721 + Methodist Episcopal 1,793 + United Brethren 521 + Evangelical Association 129 + Radical United Brethren 95 + African Methodist Episcopal 40 + Protestant Episcopal 39 + United Evangelical 27 + German Methodist Episcopal 27 + Free Methodist 27 + Wesleyan Methodist 27 + Moravian 4 + Primitive Methodist 1 + + +CATHOLIC BODIES + + Total 253 + Catholic (Roman) 248 + Greek Catholic 4 + Russian Catholic 1 + + +OTHER BODIES + + Total 293 + Methodist Protestant 211 + Holiness 25 + Brethren (O. O., Prog. and River) 21 + Latter Day Saints 6 + Saints 5 + Christian Missionary Alliance 4 + Christian Science 3 + International Bible Students Association 3 + Federated 3 + Missionary Church Association 2 + Pietist 1 + Wengerite 1 + Seven Sleepers 1 + Denomination not reported 7 + + + + +CHAPTER II + +TABULAR SUMMARIES FOR THE STATE + + +There are in Ohio 1,343 townships (see Table I) which are wholly or partly +made up of open country or villages of less than 2,500 inhabitants. (This +number of inhabitants having been selected by the United States Census as +marking the line between urban and rural, we have necessarily followed.) +In the strictly rural townships and the rural sections of townships which +are partly urban or suburban, there is altogether a population of more +than two million persons, and 6,642 churches. These figures give us, on an +average, 1,516 persons and five rural churches to a township, and 307 +persons to a church. + +Of townships which border on cities and towns of more than 2,500 persons, +there are 173. In townships of this class there are 342,077 persons and +582 churches, while for each township there are 1,977 persons and three +churches, or 587 persons to a church. It is presumable that many persons +in these suburban townships attend the churches in the neighboring cities +or large towns. + +If we subtract the suburban townships from the 1,343 mentioned above, +there remain 1,170 townships which are strictly rural. Unless otherwise +stated all deductions have been drawn exclusively from these rural +townships. The 1,170 strictly rural townships contain nearly 1,700,000 +persons and 6,060 churches. They have, on an average, 1,448 persons and +five churches to a township and 280 persons to a church. + +Although there are 6,060 churches in the 1,170 strictly rural townships, +their membership records are so often incomplete that satisfactory figures +were found for only 4,941 churches. The membership of 3,351 of these +churches, or 68 per cent, is not more than 100; in 2,704, or 55 per cent, +the membership is not more than 75; while in 1,817, or 37 per cent, the +membership is not more than 50. (See Table II.) + + +TABLE I + +POPULATION, AVERAGE NUMBER OF PERSONS AND CHURCHES, AND AVERAGE NUMBER OF +PERSONS TO A CHURCH, BY TOWNSHIPS + + 1 _Strictly rural townships_ + 2 _Other rural sections_ + 3 _All rural sections_ + + 1 2 3 + Number of townships 1,170 173 1,343 + Population of rural townships 1,693,951 342,077 2,036,028 + Number persons per township 1,448 1,977 1,516 + Number churches per township 5 3 5 + Number of churches 6,060 582 6,642 + Number persons per church 280 587 307 + +In the suburban rural townships and rural sections of townships containing +cities and large towns, 72 per cent of the churches have a membership of +not more than 100, 56 per cent of not more than 75, and 34 per cent of not +more than 50. Altogether, in rural townships and rural sections of other +townships, there are 5,392 churches out of 6,642 for which membership data +are available. Of these 3,776, or 68 per cent, have a membership of not +more than 100; 2,956, or 55 per cent, a membership of not more than 75; +and 1,860, or 36 per cent, have a membership of not more than 50. + +The number of churches in rural townships whose membership records are not +available is 6,060 less 4,941, or 1,119. If we apply to these also the +percentages just given for the churches with available membership records, +we find that of the total of 6,060 churches in the strictly rural +townships, 4,110 have a membership of not more than 100; 3,316 have a +membership of not more than 75; while 2,227 have a membership of not more +than 50. Since the larger churches as a rule are more careful in keeping +their records than the smaller ones, the conclusions drawn from these +calculations are well within the limits of truth. + +By the same method we find that in the suburban rural townships and rural +sections of townships containing cities and towns of more than 2,500 +inhabitants, 419 of the 582 churches have a membership of 100 or less; 325 +of 75 or less; while 198 churches have a membership of 50 or less. We +therefore calculate that of 6,642, or all the rural churches, 4,529 or 68 +per cent have a membership of not more than 100; 3,641, or 55 per cent, a +membership of not more than 75; and 2,425 or 37 per cent a membership of +not more than 50. + + +TABLE II + +CHURCHES CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO NUMBER OF THEIR MEMBERS + + Key: + 1 _Rural townships_ + 2 _Per cent_ + 3 _Other rural sections_ + 4 _Per cent_ + 5 _All sections_ + 6 _Per cent_ + + 1 2 3 4 5 6 + No. churches whose membership + is reported 4,941 100 451 100 5,392 100 + No. of these whose membership + is less than 101 3,351 67.8 325 72 3,676 68 + No. of these whose membership + is less than 76 2,704 54.7 252 56 2,956 55 + No. of these whose membership + is less than 51 1,817 36.7 153 34 1,860 36 + No. churches whose membership + data are not available 1,119 18 131 23 1,250 19 + Calculated minimum number of + churches whose membership + is less than 101 4,110* 68 419* 72 4,529 68 + Calculated minimum number of + churches whose membership + is less than 76 3,316* 55 325* 56 3,641 55 + Calculated minimum number of + churches whose membership + is less than 51 2,227* 37 198* 34 2,425 37 + No. churches reporting whose + membership is from 1 to 25 651 13 45 10 696 13 + No. churches reporting whose + membership is from 26-50 1,116 23 108 24 1,274 24 + No. churches reporting whose + membership is from 51-75 887 18 99 22 986 18 + + *Note: Reckoned as follows: 3351 + .678 x 1119 = 4110 + 2704 + .547 x 1119 = 3316 + 1817 + .367 x 1119 = 2227 + + 325 + .72 x 131 = 419 + 252 + .56 x 131 = 325 + 153 + .34 x 131 = 198 + + No. churches reporting whose + membership is from 76-100 647 13 73 16 720 13 + No. churches reporting whose + membership is 101-150 757 15 62 14 819 15 + No. churches reporting whose + membership is from 151-200 375 8 32 7 407 8 + No. churches reporting whose + membership is more than 200 458 9 32 7 490 9 + Calculated number of churches + whose membership is more + than 200 561 9 40 7 601 9 + +In 313, or 27 per cent, of the strictly rural townships, no church has a +resident minister (see Table III); in 575, or 39 per cent of the villages, +no church has a resident minister; and in 4,007, or 66 per cent, of the +churches, there is no resident minister. Only 982 churches, or 16 per +cent, have the full time service of a minister; 1,581 churches, or 26 per +cent, have one-half the service of a minister; 5,026, or 83 per cent, have +one-half time service or less; 3,445, or 57 per cent, have one-third time +service or less; 2,320, or 39 per cent, have one-fourth time service or +less; while 721, or 12 per cent of the 6,060 churches in the strictly +rural townships have no regular service of a minister at all. + +The percentages do not materially differ in the suburban townships. In the +combined total of 1,343 rural townships and suburban townships which +contain sections of open country and villages of less than 2,500 +inhabitants, we find that 335, or 25 per cent, of the townships have no +churches served by a resident minister; that in 634, or 40 per cent, of +the villages there is no resident minister; that 4,431, or 67 per cent, of +the churches have no resident minister; that only 1,065 churches, or 16 +per cent, have the full time service of a minister; that 1,766, or 27 per +cent, have one-half the service of a minister; that 5,521, or 84 per cent, +have one-half time service or less; that 3,755, or 57 per cent, have +one-third time service or less; that 2,518, or 38 per cent, have +one-fourth time service or less; while 755, or 11 per cent, of the 6,642 +country churches of Ohio, have no regular service of a minister at all. + + +TABLE III + +AMOUNT OF MINISTERIAL SERVICE BY TOWNSHIPS, VILLAGES AND CHURCHES + + Key: + 1 _Rural townships_ + 2 _Per cent_ + 3 _Other rural sections_ + 4 _Per cent_ + 5 _All rural sections_ + 6 _Per cent_ + + 1 2 3 4 5 6 + No. townships whose churches are + without resident ministers 313 27 22 12 335 25 + No. villages which have a + resident minister 901 61 54 48 955 60 + No. villages without a resident + minister 575 39 58.5 52 634 40 + No. churches with resident + minister 2,053 34 158 28 2,211 33 + No. churches without resident + minister 4,007 66 424 74 4,431 67 + No. churches with full time + service of a minister 982 16 83 14 1,065 16 + No. churches with 1/2 time + service of a minister 1,581 26 185 32 1,766 27 + No. churches with 1/2 time + service of a minister or less 5,026 83 495 85 5,521 84 + No. churches with 1/3 time + service of a minister or less 3,445 57 310 53 3,755 56.5 + No. churches with 1/4 time + service of a minister or less 2,320 39 198 34 2,518 38 + No. churches with no regular + service of a minister 721 12 62 11 755 11 + No. churches with 1/3 time + service of a minister 1,125 19 112 19 1,237 19 + No. churches with 1/4 time + service of a minister 970 16 96 16 1,066 16 + No. churches for which data are + not available 52 1 4 1 56 1 + +Of the 6,060 churches in the wholly rural townships, 3,253, or 54 per +cent, are in villages whose inhabitants number from 51 to 2,500 persons, +while 2,807, or 46 per cent, are in the open country. (See Table IV.) In +the suburban rural townships 198, or 34 per cent, of the churches are in +villages containing from 51 to 2,500 persons, while 384, or 66 per cent, +are in the open country. + +Of the 6,642 country churches in Ohio, therefore, 3,451, or 52 per cent, +are in villages containing from 51 to 2,500 inhabitants, and 3,191, or 48 +per cent, in the open country. + +In the strictly rural districts, 1,207, or 20 per cent, of the churches +are in villages or towns of moderate size, having from 501 to 2,500 +inhabitants, while 2,046, or 34 per cent, are in small villages of from 51 +to 500. No less than 4,853, or 80 per cent, of the churches in the +strictly rural districts are either in the open country or in the small +villages of 500 inhabitants or less. In addressing ourselves to the rural +church problem, therefore, we are almost exclusively concerned with the +smaller villages and the open country. + + +TABLE IV + +NUMBER OF CHURCHES IN VILLAGES AND IN THE OPEN COUNTRY + + Key: + 1 _Rural townships_ + 2 _Per cent_ + 3 _Other rural sections_ + 4 _Per cent_ + 5 _All rural sections_ + 6 _Per cent_ + + 1 2 3 4 5 6 + No. churches in villages containing + from 51 to 2,500 persons 3,253 54 198 34 3,451 52 + No. churches in open country 2,807 46 384 66 3,191 48 + No. churches in villages or towns + having from 501 to 2,500 + inhabitants 1,207 20 76 13 1,283 19 + No. churches in villages having + from 51 to 500 inhabitants 2,046 34 122 21 2,168 33 + No. churches in open country and + in villages having less than + 501 inhabitants 4,853 80 506 87 5,359 81 + +We have assumed 50 persons as the line which separates a small village +from the open country, just as the United States Census has assumed 2,500 +persons as the lower limit of the town. In rural Ohio there are 1,477 +villages whose inhabitants number 51 to 2,500 persons. (See Table V.) Of +these, 673, or 46 per cent, have from 51 to 200 inhabitants; 487, or 33 +per cent, have from 201 to 500 inhabitants; while 317, or 21 per cent, +have more than 500 persons. + +Of the smallest villages, or those of 51 to 200 persons, 234, or 35 per +cent, have one or more ministers living near the church he serves and 270 +ministers in all; while 440, or 65 per cent, have no resident ministers +whatever. + +In the 487 country villages whose inhabitants number from 201 to 500 +persons, 360, or 74 per cent, have one or more ministers and 527 ministers +in all, while there are 127, or 26 per cent, without resident ministers. +Of the 317 villages whose inhabitants number more than 500 persons, 308, +or 97 per cent, have one or more resident pastors and altogether 896 +ministers--(which is 53 per cent of the whole number of ministers living +in villages), while only 9, or 3 per cent, are without any ministers at +all. + +Of the 1,477 country villages of all sizes, 901, or 61 per cent, have one +or more resident ministers and in all 1,693 ministers, while 576, or 39 +per cent, of the villages have no minister living in them. + +These 1,477 villages have only 3,253, or 54 per cent, of the churches, but +they have 1,693, or 82 per cent, of the ministers; while the open country, +with 2,807, or 46 per cent, of the churches, has only 360, or 18 per cent, +of the resident ministers. More than 87 per cent of the open country +churches, or 2,447 of them, are without a resident minister. + +In addition to the ministers here included, there are about 350 who do not +live near any one of their churches, but for the most part in the cities +and towns. This number includes many student preachers. + +On Map 26, page 117, the distribution of the villages is represented +graphically. + + +[Illustration: MAP 26 VILLAGES AND CITIES] + + +TABLE V + +RESIDENT MINISTERS IN STRICTLY RURAL TOWNSHIPS, IN THE OPEN COUNTRY, AND +IN VILLAGES + + Key: + 1 _Villages of 51-2500 persons_ + 2 _Per cent_ + 3 _Villages of 51-200 persons_ + 4 _Per cent_ + 5 _Villages of 201-500 persons_ + 6 _Per cent_ + 7 _Villages of 501-2500 persons_ + 8 _Per cent_ + 9 _Villages of 201-2500 persons_ + 10 _Per cent_ + 11 _Open country_ + 12 _Per cent_ + + 1 2 3 4 5 6 + No. of villages 1,476.5 100 673 46 487 33 + No. of villages + with ministers 901 61 233.5 35 360 74 + No. of ministers 1,693 (31) 270 16 527 31 + No. of villages + without ministers 575.5 39 439.5 65 127 26 + No. of churches 3,253 54 984 16 1,062 18 + + + 7 8 9 10 11 12 + No. of villages 316.5 21 803.5 54 + No. of villages + with ministers 307.5 97 667.5 83 + No. of ministers 896 53 1,423 (69) 360 8 + No. of villages + without ministers 9 3 136 9 + No. of churches 1,207 20 2,269 37 2,807 46 + +It has not been possible to collect full data as to the length of the +rural minister's service. But the Conference Records give these data for +the ministers of the Methodist Episcopal churches. The terms of service of +these ministers are not more brief than those in most of the other +denominations. + +In the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ohio there were, at the time of the +Annual Conference in the autumn of 1917, 664 pastors of country churches +(see Table VI); 490, or 74 per cent of them, were about to begin their +first or second year's service in their charges; only 174, or 26 per cent, +had had two years' acquaintance with their parishes; 318, or 48 per cent, +were beginning their first year of service in their charges; 172, or 26 +per cent, were beginning their second year; 110, or 16 per cent, were +beginning their third year; while there were only 64, or less than 10 per +cent, who had been as long as three years in the parishes they were +serving. Only 8, or a little more than 1 per cent, had served as long as +five years in their parishes, while only one man had served more than +seven years. + + +TABLE VI + +TERMS OF SERVICE OF METHODIST EPISCOPAL COUNTRY MINISTERS, 1917 + + Key: + 1 _State of Ohio_ + 2 _Per cent_ + 3 _Ohio Conference_ + 4 _West Ohio Conference_ + 5 _Northeast Ohio Conference_ + + 1 2 3 4 5 + Total number of ministers 664 100 144 226 294 + No. beginning 1st or 2nd year + of service in their charges 490 74 115 161 214 + No. beginning their 1st year + of service in their charges 318 48 78 97 143 + No. beginning their 2nd year + of service in their charges 172 26 37 64 71 + No. beginning their 3rd year + of service in their charges 110 16 20 37 53 + No. who have been two years + or more in their charges 174 26 29 65 80 + No. who had served three + years or more in their + present charges 64 10 9 28 27 + No. who had served four years + or more in their present + charges 18 3 3 2 13 + No. who had served five years + or more in their present + charges 8 1 2 1 5 + No. who had served six years + or more in their present Less + charges 3 than 0 0 3 + one + No. who had served seven + years or more in their + present charges 1 " 0 0 1 + No. who had served eight + years or more in their + present charges 1 " 0 0 1 + +In Table VII it appears that in 2 of the 1,170 strictly rural townships +there is a church for each 99 persons or less; that in 227 townships there +are from 100 to 199 persons to a church; that in 446 there are from 200 to +299 persons; that in 270 townships there are from 300 to 399; that in 122 +townships there are from 400 to 499; that in 53 townships there are from +500 to 599; and that in 45 townships there are 600 persons or more to a +church. + +In other words, in 675, or 58 per cent, of the townships, there are less +than 300 persons, men, women, and children, to a church; in 945, or 81 per +cent, of the townships, there are less than 400; in 1,067, or 91 per cent, +there are less than 500; while in 103, or only 9 per cent, there are more +than 500 persons to a church. + + +TABLE VII + +AVERAGE NUMBER OF PERSONS TO A CHURCH IN 1,170 RURAL TOWNSHIPS + + Average No. of persons No. of Per cent + to a church townships + 1-99 2 Less than 1 + 100-199 227 19 + 200-299 446 38 + 300-399 270 23 + 400-499 122 10 + 500-599 53 5 + More than 599 45 4 + Townships without any church 5 Less than 1 + Less than 300 to a church 675 58 + Less than 400 to a church 945 81 + Less than 500 to a church 1,067 91 + More than 500 to a church 103 9 + +In Table VIII a comparison is made between city and country. According to +the United States Census of 1910 the population of Ohio numbered +4,767,121, the churches 9,890, or 482 persons to a church. According to +the data gathered in this survey in the 1,170 strictly rural townships the +churches number 6,060. In 1910 the population in these townships numbered +1,693,894. Assuming that there has been no change in the population since +1910, there is now one church for each 280 persons. But from 1900 to 1910 +there was a decline of more than 3 per cent in the population of these +townships. If we assume that this decline has continued since 1910 there +are to-day on the average less than 280 men, women, and children, church +people and non-church people, to give and do all that must be given and +done for each country church in Ohio. In such a state of facts, poverty +and weakness are inevitable. + +Upon the same assumption of no change in population or number of churches +since 1910, there are in the 173 suburban townships 342,077 persons and +582 churches, or 587 persons to a church, while in the large towns and +cities there are 2,731,150 persons and only 3,248 churches, or 841 persons +to a church. + +As compared with the city church the country church obviously has a very +much smaller opportunity to enlarge its attendance and increase its +support and membership until some method of combining country churches +shall have been put into successful operation. + + +TABLE VIII + +AVERAGE NUMBER OF PERSONS TO A CHURCH + + Key: + 1 _State of Ohio_ + 2 _1,170 strictly rural townships_ + 3 _173 suburban townships_ + 4 _Large towns and cities_ + + 1 2 3 4 + Population 4,767,121 1,693,894 342,077 2,731,150 + No. of churches 9,890 6,060 582 3,248 + No. of persons to a church 482 280 587 841 + +Complete data for ministers' salaries are not available, but the amount of +the minister's pay is indicated by the figures in the official records of +the two denominations which have the largest number of rural churches. +There were in 1917, 688 pastors of rural churches of the Methodist +Episcopal Church. (See Table IX.) These received, on an average, $993 per +year, or $857 and free use of parsonage. Six hundred and sixty-two +ministers, or 96 per cent, received less than $1,500 per year; 513, or 75 +per cent, received less than $1,200 per year; while 303, or 44 per cent, +received less than $1,000. + +In the United Brethren Church, according to the records of its +Conferences, in 1917 there were 188 pastors of rural churches. (See Table +X.) Their average salary was $787, or $680 and free use of parsonage; not +one received as much as $1,500 salary; 171, or all but 17, received less +than $1,200; while 135, or 72 per cent, received less than $1,000. + +Not only are ministers given inadequate pay, but the rate of its increase +in relation to the increase in the cost of living gives no promise of its +becoming adequate. + +In the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church the average +salary of the country minister in 1905 was $733, including the estimated +rental value of parsonage, while in 1915 it was $915, making an increase +of $182, or 25 per cent, in ten years. During the same period, however, +according to data supplied by the United States Bureau of Labor +Statistics, the retail prices of food consumed by the ordinary +workingman's family in the nation increased no less than 37 per cent. + +It is probable, on the other hand, that the farmers have a constantly +increasing ability to pay, for in the ten-year period from 1900 to 1910 +there was, according to the United States Census reports, an increase in +the total value of farm property in the State of nearly 60 per cent. + + +TABLE IX + +SALARIES OF METHODIST EPISCOPAL COUNTRY MINISTERS, 1917 + + Key: + 1 _No. of ministers_ + 2 _Average salary (including estimated rental value of parsonage)_ + 3 _No. of charges giving salaries less than $1,500_ + 4 _Per cent_ + 5 _No. of charges giving salaries less than $1,200_ + 6 _Per cent_ + 7 _No. of charges giving salaries less than $1,000_ + 8 _Per cent_ + + 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 + State 688 $993 662 96 513 75 303 44 + Ohio Conference 151 $972 145 96 110 73 79 52 + West Ohio Conference 237 $1,004 230 97 184 78 87 37 + Northeast Ohio + Conference 300 $995 287 96 219 73 137 46 + + +TABLE X + +SALARIES OF COUNTRY MINISTERS, UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST, 1917 + + Key: + 1 _No. of ministers_ + 2 _Average salaries (including estimated rental value of parsonage)_ + 3 _Salaries less than $1,500_ + 4 _Per cent_ + 5 _Salaries less than $1,200_ + 6 _Per cent_ + 7 _Salaries less than $1,000_ + 8 _Per cent_ + + 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 + State 188 $787 188 100 171 91 135 72 + Sandusky Conference 63 $866 63 100 58 92 39 62 + Southeast Ohio + Conference 47 $687 47 100 43 91 37 79 + Miami Conference 42 $779 42 100 37 88 30 71 + East Ohio Conference 36 $787 36 100 33 92 29 80 + + + + +CHAPTER III + +TABULAR SUMMARY BY COUNTIES + + +Table F is a summary of the principal facts disclosed by this +investigation. These facts are given for the strictly rural townships in +each of the different counties. They do not include the urban or suburban +townships. Being intended to present the facts only as to the rural part +of each county, they should not be used as representing entire counties or +the State as a whole. + +In the ten-year period from 1900 to 1910 there was a decline in the +population of the strictly rural townships of 3.6 per cent. In only 21 +counties out of the total of 88 did the rural townships increase in +population, and most of these are in mining and manufacturing regions. In +the strictly agricultural parts of Franklin, Fairfield, Miami and Licking +Counties there was an increase of from 2 to 5 per cent, in Medina and +Wayne of less than 1 per cent. In the other 67 counties there was a +decline, ranging all the way from 1 per cent in Erie, Geauga, and Hamilton +to 17 per cent in Paulding. The average population of the strictly rural +townships varies from 904 in Knox County to 2,743 in Miami, and averages +1,448 for the State. + +The number of rural churches for a county varies from 32 in Sandusky and +Lake Counties to 130 in Washington. The number of churches to a township +is five for the State, but varies from 3 in Portage, Huron, Delaware, +Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Ashtabula Counties to 9 in Allen and Stark. The +average number of persons to each country church is 280 for the State, but +varies from 182 in Vinton County to 433 in Cuyahoga. The number of open +country churches varies from 5 in Butler County to 82 in Washington. + +The number of churches with a resident minister varies from 9 in Jackson +County to 45 in Wood. The number of churches without a resident minister +varies from 17 in Lake County to 103 in Washington. Those with full time +service of a minister vary in number from 1 in Pickaway, Noble, and +Jackson Counties to 25 in Columbiana and Wayne. In one county, Wyandot, +there are no churches without some part of a minister's time. In Clermont +County there are no less than 30 of them. + + +TABLE F + +SUMMARY BY COUNTIES OF DATA FOR THE 1,170 STRICTLY RURAL TOWNSHIPS + +(Excluding townships in which the population is urban, in which are +villages of more than 2,500 inhabitants or in which are parts of large +town or city parishes, and those which border on cities and large towns.) + + 1. Population for 1910. + 2. Population for 1900. + 3. Per cent increase (+) or decrease (-). + + 4. No. of strictly rural townships. + 5. Average No. of persons to a township. + 6. No. of churches. + 7. Average No. of churches to a township. + 8. Average No. of persons to a church. + + 9. No. of churches with a resident minister. + 10. No. of churches without a resident minister. + 11. No. of churches with full time service of a minister. + 12. No. of churches with 1/2 of a minister's service. + 13. No. of churches with 1/3 of a minister's service. + 14. No. of churches with 1/4 of a minister's service. + 15. No. of churches with less than 1/4 of a minister's service. + 16. No. of churches with no regular service of a minister. + 17. No. of churches for which ministerial service data are not + available. + + 18. No. of churches with from 1 to 25 members. + 19. No. of churches with from 26 to 50 members. + 20. No. of churches with from 51 to 75 members. + 21. No. of churches with from 76 to 100 members. + 22. No. of churches with from 101 to 150 members. + 23. No. of churches with from 151 to 200 members. + 24. No. of churches with more than 200 members. + 25. No. of churches whose membership is not reported. + + 26. No. of churches in villages containing from 51 to 2,500 inhabitants. + 27. No. of churches in the open country (including villages of less than + 51 inhabitants). + + 28. No. of townships from 1 to 100 persons to a church. + 29. No. of townships with from 101 to 200 persons to a church. + 30. No. of townships with from 201 to 300 persons to a church. + 31. No. of townships with from 301 to 400 persons to a church. + 32. No. of townships with from 401 to 500 persons to a church. + 33. No. of townships with from 501 to 600 persons to a church. + 34. No. of townships with more than 600 persons to a church. + + 35. No. of villages containing from 51 to 200 inhabitants. + 36. No. of villages containing from 51 to 200 inhabitants having a + resident minister. + 37. No. of ministers resident in villages containing from 51 to 200 + inhabitants. + 38. No. of villages containing from 201 to 500 inhabitants. + 39. No. of villages containing from 201 to 500 inhabitants having a + resident minister. + 40. No. of ministers resident in villages containing from 201 to 500 + inhabitants. + + 41. No. of villages of more than 500 inhabitants. + 42. No. of villages of more than 500 inhabitants having a resident + minister. + 43. No. of ministers resident in villages of more than 500 inhabitants. + + 44. No. of villages of 201 to 2,500 inhabitants without a church. + 45. No. of villages of 51 to 200 inhabitants without a church. + + + Key: + A _State_ + B _Adams_ + C _Allen_ + D _Ashland_ + E _Ashtabula_ + F _Athens_ + G _Auglaize_ + H _Belmont_ + + A B C D E F G H + (1) 1,693,951 24,755 14,820 15,046 24,420 17,372 15,803 33,216 + (2) 1,752,934 26,328 15,252 15,860 23,617 16,353 16,971 26,003 + (3) -3.3 -8 -5 -5 +3.3 +6 -7 +27.5 + + (4) 1,170 14 7 14 24 11 11 13 + (5) 1,448 1,768 2,117 1,075 1,018 1,579 1,437 2,555 + (6) 6,060 93 62 65 78 76 44 96 + (7) 5 7 9 5 3 7 4 7 + (8) 280 266 237 231 313 229 359 352 + + (9) 2,053 24 25 35 36 16 14 30 + (10) 4,007 69 37 30 42 60 30 66 + + (11) 982 11 11 18 24 2 10 14 + (12) 1,581 15 21 24 19 2 10 27 + (13) 1,125 28 17 14 16 10 7 15 + (14) 970 10 9 4 8 18 12 10 + (15) 629 12 1 0 0 30 2 14 + (16) 721 17 3 5 11 14 1 16 + (17) 52 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 + + (18) 651 12 6 5 15 19 0 7 + (19) 1,166 24 17 4 18 23 16 17 + (20) 887 16 9 14 16 17 5 14 + (21) 647 5 7 9 6 9 4 16 + (22) 757 11 9 12 11 4 3 8 + (23) 375 4 8 6 3 0 2 8 + (24) 458 7 6 5 5 0 5 13 + (25) 1,119 14 0 10 4 4 9 13 + + (26) 3,253 37 32 38 50 36 25 61 + (27) 2,807 56 30 27 28 41 19 35 + + (28) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 227 1 2 3 4 7 0 2 + (30) 446 8 4 6 6 3 6 4 + (31) 270 4 1 3 8 0 2 1 + (32) 122 0 0 2 3 0 1 5 + (33) 53 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 + (34) 45 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 + + (35) 677 9 2 5 15.5 9 5 13 + (36) 233.5 1 1 3 6.5 2 1 4 + (37) 271 1 1 5 8 2 1 4 + (38) 488 5 5 6 11 9 5 8 + (39) 360 2 5 5 8 6 3 7 + (40) 536 4 10 13 13 11 4 8 + + (41) 317.5 4 2 2 4 2 3 8 + (42) 307.5 4 2 2 4 2 3 7 + (43) 896 14 9 10 11 4 6 18 + + (44) 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (45) 115 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 + + + Key: + A _Brown_ + B _Butler_ + C _Carroll_ + D _Champaign_ + E _Clark_ + F _Clermont_ + G _Clinton_ + H _Columbiana_ + + A B C D E F G H + (1) 24,832 11,045 15,761 17,428 16,435 29,551 17,465 19,890 + (2) 28,237 12,436 11,854 18,626 17,078 31,610 18,779 20,260 + (3) -12 -11 +33 -6.4 -3.5 -6.7 -6.9 -2 + + (4) 16 7 14 11 9 14 12 12 + (5) 1,552 1,578 1,126 1,584 1,826 2,111 1,455 1,657 + (6) 79 36 58 60 56 119 52 69 + (7) 5 5 4 5 6 8 4 6 + (8) 314 307 272 290 293 249 336 288 + + (9) 22 16 21 23 22 32 26 32 + (10) 57 20 37 37 34 87 26 37 + (11) 10 9 5 12 14 13 22 25 + (12) 23 13 19 20 11 31 9 19 + (13) 14 8 13 11 15 16 5 9 + (14) 14 0 12 6 10 14 6 6 + (15) 10 2 5 4 1 15 6 0 + (16) 8 3 4 7 5 30 4 10 + (17) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + (18) 10 4 2 3 3 25 1 5 + (19) 15 3 11 7 8 36 6 7 + (20) 9 4 7 8 6 23 8 13 + (21) 12 5 4 4 9 5 2 9 + (22) 13 6 10 11 8 6 8 16 + (23) 4 2 8 2 2 8 4 5 + (24) 7 3 3 5 6 9 6 10 + (25) 9 9 13 20 14 7 17 4 + + (26) 41 31 37 35 36 83 40 43 + (27) 38 5 21 25 20 36 12 26 + + (28) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 1 0 3 0 1 6 0 0 + (30) 8 4 5 7 4 4 3 7 + (31) 5 2 3 3 2 3 6 4 + (32) 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 + (33) 1 0 1 0 1 1 2 1 + (34) 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 + (35) 8 6 6 10 7 24 10 8 + (36) 4 2 2 4 3 4 3 5 + (37) 4 2 2 5 3 5 3 6 + (38) 5 7 4 4 8.5 8 6.5 8 + (39) 4 5 3 4 6 6 5.5 5 + (40) 6 7 7 6 10 7 8 7 + + (41) 5 1 3.5 3 2 7 3 2 + (42) 5 1 3 3 2 7 3 2 + (43) 10 5 11 9 7 17 11 9 + + (44) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (45) 1 3 1 0 2 3 0 5 + + + Key: + A _Coshocton_ + B _Crawford_ + C _Cuyahoga_ + D _Darke_ + E _Defiance_ + F _Delaware_ + G _Erie_ + H _Fairfield_ + + A B C D E F G H + (1) 19,324 12,749 19,928 30,702 15,618 17,110 14,804 17,193 + (2) 20,998 14,225 17,466 31,293 17,081 17,461 14,923 16,756 + (3) -8 -10.5 +14 -1.8 -8.5 -2 -1 +2 + + (4) 21 13 14 18 10 17 9 9 + (5) 920 981 1,423 1,706 1,562 1,006 1,645 1,821 + (6) 81 51 46 96 62 59 41 74 + (7) 4 4 3 5 6 3 5 8 + (8) 239 250 433 320 252 290 361 222 + + (9) 17 18 23 36 16 14 25 22 + (10) 64 33 23 60 46 45 16 52 + (11) 5 13 15 22 11 6 15 4 + (12) 22 12 23 26 9 24 20 18 + (13) 9 13 2 14 14 14 2 16 + (14) 27 6 0 17 9 7 0 29 + (15) 10 5 0 5 13 0 0 6 + (16) 7 1 5 11 5 8 4 1 + (17) 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 + + (18) 6 1 4 3 13 9 5 7 + (19) 10 12 12 18 17 10 7 14 + (20) 11 7 3 18 6 9 1 12 + (21) 10 7 7 13 5 12 3 9 + (22) 11 8 5 16 5 9 9 16 + (23) 3 2 2 7 0 2 1 6 + (24) 4 5 4 10 5 3 3 4 + (25) 26 9 9 11 11 5 12 6 + + (26) 47 21 30 51 23 30 33 37 + (27) 34 30 16 45 39 29 8 37 + + (28) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 6 5 0 1 2 4 0 2 + (30) 6 4 4 5 5 3 3 7 + (31) 8 3 3 8 3 5 3 0 + (32) 1 1 3 4 0 2 2 0 + (33) 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 + (34) 0 0 3 0 0 1 1 0 + + (35) 20.5 8 5 14 2 9 6 5 + (36) 7 4 3 6 1 1 2 2 + (37) 9 4 4 8 1 1 2 2 + (38) 5.5 3 6 8.5 4 7 0 7 + (39) 2 2 5 4 0 6 0 6 + (40) 3 3 7 5 0 9 0 11 + + (41) 2 1 3 4.5 2 2 6 3 + (42) 2 1 3 4.5 2 2 6 3 + (43) 5 4 6 10 8 3 21 8 + + (44) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (45) 0 2 0 4 0 0 4 1 + + + Key: + A _Fayette_ + B _Franklin_ + C _Fulton_ + D _Gallia_ + E _Geauga_ + F _Greene_ + G _Guernsey_ + H _Hamilton_ + + A B C D E F G H + (1) 12,342 25,246 19,531 19,546 14,670 17,724 21,701 13,487 + (2) 13,357 24,023 18,777 20,973 14,744 19,284 21,369 13,644 + (3) -8 +5 +4 -7 -1 -8 +2 -1 + + (4) 9 14 11 14 16 11 17 6 + (5) 1,371 1,803 1,776 1,396 917 1,611 1,277 2,248 + (6) 48 73 56 99 40 64 81 40 + (7) 5 5 5 7 3 6 5 7 + (8) 257 346 349 197 367 277 268 337 + + (9) 10 26 24 14 19 28 26 18 + (10) 38 47 32 85 21 36 55 22 + (11) 3 13 13 3 11 17 8 12 + (12) 8 12 15 7 9 19 22 7 + (13) 7 24 9 14 10 16 16 6 + (14) 10 18 10 13 0 5 21 6 + (15) 19 0 2 48 0 3 5 3 + (16) 1 5 4 14 10 4 8 6 + (17) 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 + + (18) 7 1 11 8 4 4 7 1 + (19) 13 8 7 29 12 9 14 5 + (20) 9 8 8 17 6 12 16 7 + (21) 6 10 6 12 2 8 15 1 + (22) 5 18 6 5 7 16 12 3 + (23) 2 2 4 2 3 3 9 4 + (24) 2 9 4 3 1 7 6 6 + (25) 4 17 10 23 5 5 2 13 + + (26) 23 44 26 29 26 39 41 24 + (27) 25 29 30 70 14 25 40 16 + + (28) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 2 0 1 7 1 2 5 1 + (30) 3 4 3 6 4 4 6 1 + (31) 3 6 3 1 4 4 2 2 + (32) 1 1 2 0 3 0 3 2 + (33) 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 + (34) 0 0 2 0 3 0 1 0 + + (35) 7 6 1 13 5 5 7 4 + (36) 2 2 0 4 2 3 1 2 + (37) 2 2 0 4 3 3 1 2 + (38) 4 8 4 5 4 4.5 6 2 + (39) 2 5 3 4 4 3 6 1 + (40) 2 7 4 5 5 6 11 1 + + (41) 2 5 4 0 3 4 6 4.5 + (42) 2 5 4 0 3 4 6 4.5 + (43) 4 14 17 0 8 16 13 11 + + (44) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (45) 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 + + + Key: + A _Hancock_ + B _Hardin_ + C _Harrison_ + D _Henry_ + E _Highland_ + F _Hocking_ + G _Holmes_ + H _Huron_ + + A B C D E F G H + (1) 17,782 20,863 19,076 19,988 17,382 16,934 17,909 15,532 + (2) 18,988 21,847 20,486 22,368 19,504 19,183 19,511 14,144 + (3) -7 -4 -6 -11 -11 -12 -8 +10 + + (4) 14 13 15 12 15 10 14 15 + (5) 1,270 1,605 1,272 1,666 1,159 1,693 1,279 1,035 + (6) 78 66 73 63 69 72 62 49 + (7) 6 5 5 5 5 7 4 3 + (8) 228 316 261 317 252 235 289 317 + + (9) 23 20 30 26 19 10 29 21 + (10) 55 46 43 37 50 62 33 28 + (11) 9 9 8 10 7 2 10 12 + (12) 22 14 26 18 11 6 35 23 + (13) 16 17 17 23 12 12 8 7 + (14) 26 8 20 6 15 7 1 3 + (15) 0 8 0 1 9 33 0 0 + (16) 5 8 2 4 12 10 8 4 + (17) 0 2 0 1 3 2 0 0 + + (18) 8 1 5 8 4 5 10 7 + (19) 15 7 8 11 15 11 8 8 + (20) 15 10 14 10 10 7 5 7 + (21) 12 10 12 8 5 3 7 9 + (22) 17 5 16 7 7 2 11 7 + (23) 5 5 7 2 7 3 11 4 + (24) 4 6 9 8 4 1 9 2 + (25) 2 22 2 9 17 40 1 5 + + (26) 30 30 49 39 36 22 29 35 + (27) 48 36 24 24 33 50 33 14 + + (28) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 5 1 3 1 2 7 2 2 + (30) 7 4 6 5 8 1 7 4 + (31) 1 7 4 3 5 1 2 4 + (32) 0 1 1 1 0 0 2 2 + (33) 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 + (34) 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 + (35) 5 3 7 6 11 1 5.5 6 + (36) 0 1 3 0 3 0 3.5 1 + (37) 0 1 4 0 3 0 4 1 + (38) 7 4 6 4 6 6 7.5 2 + (39) 7 3 4 2 6 2 7 1 + (40) 13 4 8 3 8 3 10 1 + + (41) 2 5 6 5 2 3 1 5 + (42) 2 5 6 5 2 1 1 5 + (43) 7 13 17 17 5 3 5 17 + + (44) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 + (45) 0 2 1 4 3 0 0 1 + + + Key: + A _Jackson_ + B _Jefferson_ + C _Knox_ + D _Lake_ + E _Lawrence_ + F _Licking_ + G _Logan_ + H _Lorain_ + I _Lucas_ + + A B C D E F G H I + (1) 10,996 29,262 18,989 13,326 23,202 28,573 20,331 22,167 14,230 + (2) 12,009 18,959 19,957 12,398 24,644 27,715 22,418 21,328 13,496 + (3) -8 +55 -5 +7 -6 +3 -10 +4 +5 + + (4) 9 11 21 7 13 25 15 16 10 + (5) 1,222 2,660 904 1,904 1,785 1,143 1,355 1,385 1,423 + (6) 57 77 80 32 87 113 71 56 41 + (7) 6 7 4 5 7 5 5 4 4 + (8) 193 380 237 416 267 253 286 396 347 + + (9) 9 33 25 15 16 34 32 31 16 + (10) 48 44 55 17 71 79 39 25 25 + (11) 1 11 10 9 5 17 19 22 6 + (12) 7 26 26 10 12 22 24 21 12 + (13) 6 11 18 9 12 24 11 6 16 + (14) 10 19 17 3 19 10 10 0 2 + (15) 12 3 0 0 30 14 0 0 0 + (16) 21 7 9 1 9 26 5 7 2 + (17) 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 + + (18) 5 4 6 5 15 14 3 4 11 + (19) 10 15 6 10 28 26 17 9 8 + (20) 3 12 26 2 15 14 3 10 6 + (21) 0 4 12 2 13 18 7 4 1 + (22) 2 6 11 6 7 9 8 8 3 + (23) 1 8 8 1 3 5 6 2 2 + (24) 0 8 4 4 2 13 9 4 2 + (25) 36 20 7 2 4 14 18 15 8 + + (26) 14 53 48 19 25 63 46 37 23 + (27) 43 24 32 13 62 50 25 19 18 + + (28) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 6 3 9 0 2 8 2 1 0 + (30) 1 2 6 0 7 9 6 4 4 + (31) 1 2 2 5 1 6 5 3 1 + (32) 1 0 2 1 1 2 1 4 4 + (33) 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 3 1 + (34) 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 + + (35) 6 7 11 2.5 8 11 6.5 6 5 + (36) 4 2 5 0 2 4 0 3 4 + (37) 4 2 5 0 2 4 0 4 4 + (38) 0 6 7 2 4 8.5 5 3 1 + (39) 0 5 5 2 0 6 4 3 1 + (40) 0 6 9 2 0 10 7 5 1 + + (41) 1 8 3 3 3 6 7 4 4 + (42) 1 8 3 3 3 6 7 4 4 + (43) 4 23 9 6 3 13 21 13 9 + + (44) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (45) 0 3 0 0 2 3 0 2 0 + + + Key: + A _Madison_ + B _Mahoning_ + C _Marion_ + D _Medina_ + E _Meigs_ + F _Mercer_ + G _Miami_ + H _Monroe_ + I _Montgomery_ + + A B C D E F G H I + (1) 15,363 19,007 13,758 15,158 16,162 22,852 20,654 19,940 18,642 + (2) 15,911 16,860 15,456 15,107 18,961 23,739 20,143 23,373 18,116 + (3) -3 +13 -11 +.3 -15 -4 +3 -15 +3 + + (4) 13 12 14 14 11 13 8 17 8 + (5) 1,182 1,584 983 1,083 1,469 1,758 2,743 1,173 2,330 + (6) 46 66 56 52 91 82 69 93 62 + (7) 4 6 4 4 8 6 8 5 8 + (8) 334 288 246 292 178 279 318 214 301 + + (9) 14 33 15 28 16 39 33 22 23 + (10) 32 33 41 24 75 43 36 71 39 + (11) 5 21 4 20 2 26 27 6 12 + (12) 12 25 13 19 10 21 23 15 26 + (13) 10 11 21 9 10 13 7 12 9 + (14) 13 4 11 0 19 14 5 25 7 + (15) 0 0 0 0 31 3 0 11 0 + (16) 5 5 6 4 19 2 7 24 8 + (17) 1 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 + + (18) 10 3 5 6 21 6 5 18 2 + (19) 5 10 10 13 35 12 5 23 9 + (20) 2 11 9 7 11 8 6 24 5 + (21) 10 13 7 6 6 10 10 8 9 + (22) 5 11 7 7 5 12 12 9 10 + (23) 0 5 2 5 1 5 3 4 6 + (24) 7 5 3 4 0 17 10 2 6 + (25) 7 8 13 4 12 12 18 5 15 + + (26) 30 42 23 27 50 35 47 40 37 + (27) 16 24 33 25 40 47 23 53 25 + + (28) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 1 3 2 2 8 1 1 7 1 + (30) 2 2 8 7 2 9 4 6 3 + (31) 6 3 3 2 1 1 2 4 0 + (32) 1 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 3 + (33) 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 + (34) 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + (35) 6 8 2 6 20 9 7 13 4 + (36) 1 4 0 5 4 3 2 6 1 + (37) 1 5 0 6 4 7 2 8 1 + (38) 3 6 4 5 6 2.5 6 3 8 + (39) 3 5 3 4 4 2.5 5 1 7 + (40) 4 9 4 8 6 4 8 2 11 + + (41) 3 4.5 3 3 3 6 3.5 4 2 + (42) 3 4.5 3 3 2 6 3.5 3 2 + (43) 8 14 9 7 5 16 11 7 6 + + (44) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (45) 0 1 1 1 0 3 1 4 1 + + + Key: + A _Morgan_ + B _Morrow_ + C _Muskingum_ + D _Noble_ + E _Ottawa_ + F _Paulding_ + G _Perry_ + H _Pickaway_ + I _Pike_ + + A B C D E F G H I + (1) 16,097 16,815 22,643 18,601 18,319 22,730 25,177 18,951 15,723 + (2) 17,905 17,879 23,853 19,466 18,880 27,528 25,877 19,573 18,172 + (3) -10 -6 -5 -4 -3 -17 -3 -3 -13 + + (4) 14 16 21 15 11 12 12 14 14 + (5) 1,150 1,051 1,078 1,240 1,665 1,894 2,098 1,354 1,123 + (6) 83 70 101 75 50 75 88 58 74 + (7) 6 4 5 5 5 6 7 4 5 + (8) 194 240 224 248 366 303 286 327 211 + + (9) 14 27 33 15 26 24 28 13 13 + (10) 69 43 68 60 24 51 60 45 61 + (11) 5 11 9 1 17 12 13 1 4 + (12) 10 25 26 14 17 19 21 6 3 + (13) 11 17 12 7 4 14 12 21 3 + (14) 17 8 29 21 6 18 6 24 6 + (15) 21 2 10 17 0 5 23 4 29 + (16) 19 7 13 15 6 5 12 2 27 + (17) 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 2 + + (18) 12 12 4 8 4 7 5 6 14 + (19) 30 9 6 10 4 20 20 14 13 + (20) 19 13 15 7 8 4 9 17 4 + (21) 6 7 7 5 5 5 8 4 1 + (22) 6 12 13 11 6 3 10 8 2 + (23) 0 2 6 2 6 4 5 4 2 + (24) 2 4 5 2 2 7 9 4 1 + (25) 8 11 45 30 15 25 22 1 37 + + (26) 31 32 50 33 42 44 46 23 20 + (27) 52 38 51 42 8 31 42 35 54 + + (28) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 5 3 10 4 1 0 3 2 5 + (30) 7 10 6 6 4 6 4 3 6 + (31) 1 2 4 4 1 4 3 2 3 + (32) 0 1 1 1 3 2 1 3 0 + (33) 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 + (34) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 + (35) 12 5 12.5 6 6 5 7 4 7 + (36) 1 3 6 2 4 0 2 0 2 + (37) 1 5 9 2 5 0 2 0 2 + (38) 4 5 5 8 7 5.5 5 6 3 + (39) 4 4 3 5 4 3.5 4 5 3 + (40) 5 7 3 6 6 5 7 5 3 + + (41) 2 2 4.5 2 4 4 6 3 2 + (42) 2 2 4.5 2 4 4 6 3 2 + (43) 7 9 18 5 15 17 16 7 5 + + (44) 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 + (45) 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 3 1 + + + Key: + A _Portage_ + B _Preble_ + C _Putnam_ + D _Richland_ + E _Ross_ + F _Sandusky_ + G _Scioto_ + H _Seneca_ + I _Shelby_ + + A B C D E F G H I + (1) 18,379 18,921 29,972 17,760 22,460 13,398 19,380 16,796 16,648 + (2) 18,827 18,838 32,525 18,517 25,758 15,039 20,078 18,087 17,788 + (3) -2 +.5 -8 -4 -13 -11 -3 -7 -6 + + (4) 19 11 15 16 14 8 14 11 13 + (5) 1,967 1,680 1,998 1,110 1,604 1,675 1,384 1,527 1,281 + (6) 48 56 82 66 89 32 83 63 50 + (7) 3 5 5 4 6 4 6 6 4 + (8) 383 341 366 269 252 419 233 267 333 + + (9) 18 27 34 20 25 11 16 27 24 + (10) 30 29 48 46 64 21 67 36 26 + (11) 12 17 24 9 8 7 3 12 12 + (12) 19 23 19 23 12 7 17 21 14 + (13) 5 8 4 13 13 8 8 13 7 + (14) 4 3 20 13 16 2 14 13 9 + (15) 0 1 5 0 27 3 25 0 5 + (16) 8 4 9 8 11 5 14 4 3 + (17) 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 + + (18) 2 1 12 7 12 4 7 3 4 + (19) 8 3 10 13 11 6 21 13 11 + (20) 8 8 8 11 4 3 4 11 5 + (21) 4 9 3 14 12 5 4 4 4 + (22) 12 17 10 8 2 3 2 8 6 + (23) 4 5 6 7 1 1 2 5 7 + (24) 4 6 17 0 3 1 4 7 3 + (25) 6 7 16 6 44 9 39 12 10 + + (26) 35 36 53 29 37 21 36 36 28 + (27) 13 20 29 37 52 11 47 27 22 + + (28) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 0 0 0 3 3 1 4 1 1 + (30) 3 5 7 8 6 1 6 6 5 + (31) 8 2 2 2 4 2 3 3 2 + (32) 4 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 4 + (33) 2 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 + (34) 2 2 3 2 0 2 0 0 1 + + (35) 11 6 5 7 11 4 12 8 7 + (36) 7 1 1 3 4 2 2 3 3 + (37) 9 1 1 3 5 2 2 3 4 + (38) 7 5 9 1 6 3 7 6 7 + (39) 6 4 8 1 5 3 5 4 6 + (40) 7 6 11 2 7 3 7 6 7 + + (41) 2 4 6 4.5 4 3 1 2.5 2 + (42) 2 4 6 4.5 4 2 1 2.5 2 + (43) 3 14 20 12 8 6 2 11 5 + + (44) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + (45) 2 1 2 0 2 4 0 2 2 + + + Key: + A _Stark_ + B _Summit_ + C _Trumbull_ + D _Tuscarawas_ + E _Union_ + F _Van Wert_ + G _Vinton_ + H _Warren_ + + A B C D E F G H + (1) 30,984 11,686 23,449 22,387 17,183 14,982 13,096 15,188 + (2) 31,641 11,431 22,030 22,997 18,076 16,682 15,330 15,861 + (3) -2 +2 +6 -3 -5 -10 -15 -4 + + (4) 13 10 21 18 13 9 12 9 + (5) 2,383 1,169 1,117 1,244 1,322 1,665 1,091 1,688 + (6) 112 42 74 83 63 63 72 56 + (7) 9 4 4 5 5 7 6 6 + (8) 277 378 317 270 273 239 182 271 + (9) 43 17 26 25 17 16 16 18 + (10) 69 25 48 58 46 47 56 38 + (11) 18 7 18 8 7 3 9 8 + (12) 51 17 35 20 17 17 9 19 + (13) 22 10 12 24 12 18 7 12 + (14) 12 5 0 20 15 18 16 5 + (15) 0 0 0 4 1 2 25 7 + (16) 9 3 9 7 9 4 6 5 + (17) 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 + + (18) 10 11 13 5 7 5 21 6 + (19) 16 8 5 15 16 4 27 15 + (20) 11 9 21 16 10 10 9 9 + (21) 17 6 6 6 4 8 4 11 + (22) 25 2 8 6 8 7 8 3 + (23) 13 1 6 8 5 3 1 5 + (24) 8 1 9 8 3 5 1 1 + (25) 11 4 6 19 10 21 1 6 + + (26) 74 30 47 48 37 22 29 35 + (27) 38 12 27 35 26 41 43 21 + + (28) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 + (29) 0 1 2 4 2 2 9 1 + (30) 7 5 8 4 8 5 1 4 + (31) 5 1 6 4 1 2 2 3 + (32) 1 3 4 4 1 0 0 0 + (33) 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 + (34) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 + + (35) 7 5 13 7 10 6 10 8 + (36) 2 4 4 1 7 2 4 0 + (37) 3 6 4 1 7 2 4 0 + (38) 15 5 6 11 4 3.5 3 5 + (39) 12 2 2 6 2 3.5 2 5 + (40) 13 3 3 10 2 5 4 7 + + (41) 7 2 5 4 2.5 3 2 4 + (42) 7 2 5 4 1 3 2 4 + (43) 21 5 12 8 5 6 6 9 + (44) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 + (45) 1 2 2 1 1 2 0 0 + + + Key: + A _Washington_ + B _Wayne_ + C _Williams_ + D _Wood_ + E _Wyandot_ + + A B C D E + (1) 29,409 24,079 16,384 32,951 15,811 + (2) 32,481 23,895 17,440 37,378 16,508 + (3) -9 +.7 -6 -12 -4 + + (4) 21 13 10 16 12 + (5) 1,400 1,852 1,638 2,059 1,318 + (6) 130 84 66 105 50 + (7) 6 6 7 7 4 + (8) 226 299 248 314 316 + + (9) 27 42 22 45 22 + (10) 103 42 44 60 28 + (11) 6 25 7 23 5 + (12) 19 33 18 22 13 + (13) 34 12 19 29 23 + (14) 21 8 15 6 9 + (15) 22 0 4 11 0 + (16) 28 6 3 8 0 + (17) 0 0 0 6 0 + + (18) 26 2 8 10 4 + (19) 36 15 16 20 8 + (20) 17 19 9 11 7 + (21) 18 7 4 8 3 + (22) 6 19 4 14 11 + (23) 3 10 5 12 5 + (24) 3 11 4 6 8 + (25) 21 1 16 24 4 + + (26) 48 50 33 78 25 + (27) 82 34 33 27 25 + + (28) 0 0 0 0 0 + (29) 6 1 2 1 1 + (30) 12 5 6 5 6 + (31) 1 5 2 6 0 + (32) 2 2 0 2 3 + (33) 0 0 0 2 2 + (34) 0 0 0 0 0 + + (35) 14 9 4 7 5 + (36) 4 4 2 2 2 + (37) 4 6 3 2 2 + (38) 10 5.5 2 14 4 + (39) 8 5.5 0 11 4 + (40) 10 9 0 14 7 + + (41) 3 6 5 9 3 + (42) 3 6 5 9 3 + (43) 7 18 17 25 10 + + (44) 0 0 0 0 0 + (45) 2 1 0 4 0 + + + + +PART III + +THE COUNTY MAPS + + + + +EXPLANATORY NOTE + + +On the maps the location of each rural church is indicated by a square and +the residence of each minister by a cross. Lines connect each church with +the residence of its pastor. Therefore the maps show for each church +whether it receives the whole or a part of a minister's service, and for +each minister how many churches he serves and the distances he must go to +reach them and the various parts of his parish. + +The capital letters adjacent to each square indicate the denomination of +the church. The figures in parentheses and next to the square indicate the +enrolled membership. The figures not so enclosed indicate the resident +membership. The abbreviations, Inc., Sta., and Dec. indicate whether the +membership is increasing, stationary, or declining. Increase or decline in +membership, however, is only indicated where it was possible to find the +membership of ten or five years ago. When the figures for ten years ago +are available, these are taken as a basis for comparison with the +membership at the present time. Often the records of the churches are so +kept as to make it impossible or very difficult to find the membership of +either five or ten years ago. + +Shaded squares indicate closed churches. These have no minister and hold +no regular services. + +Abandoned churches are indicated by black squares. It is believed that +large numbers of them were not reported. + +Churches marked "Not Organized" do not appear in the tabulations. + +In the northwest corner of each township is given its name, while +underneath are figures indicating its population. The large circles in the +township indicate cities or towns of more than 2,500 inhabitants. Figures +in parentheses indicate the number of their population, which number is +included in the figures for the township. But in each case where they are +not in parentheses the town or city is itself a township. Figures in an +oval indicate the number of persons living in the adjacent village or +small town. + +A key to the maps is here given. + + KEY + + X Minister's Residence + [open box] Church without resident minister + [solid box] Church abandoned + [x'd box] Church with resident minister + [lined box] Church closed + [circle] Sunday School or Mission + + Resident membership is indicated by numerals, enrolled membership by + numerals in parentheses. Inc. denotes increasing membership; Dec., + decreasing, and Sta., stationary membership. + + [oval] Numerals in an oval indicate the population of a village. + + AC Advent Christian + AME African Methodist Episcopal + Br Brethren (German Baptist) + Br (OO) Old Order Brethren + Br (Prog.) Progressive Brethren + B Baptist + B (Miss.) Missionary Baptist + B (Col.) Colored Baptist + B (United) United Baptist + BSA Brothers' Society of America + C Christian + Ca Catholic + CM Calvin Methodist + CMA Christian Missionary Alliance + CNJ Church of New Jerusalem + CS Christian Science + CU Christian Union + D Disciples + DNP Disciples, Non-Progressive + E Protestant Episcopal + EvA Evangelical Association + F Friends + FM Free Methodist + FWB Free Will Baptist + G Church of God + GEv German Evangelical + GME German Methodist Episcopal + H Holiness + IBA International Bible Students Association + L Lutheran + LDS Latter-Day Saints + M Mennonite + Mor Moravian + ME Methodist Episcopal + MP Methodist Protestant + Naz Nazarene + P Presbyterian + PB Primitive Baptist + R Reformed + RUB Radical United Brethren + S Saints + SDA Seventh Day Advent + SDB Seventh Day Baptist + U Union + UB United Brethren + UP United Presbyterian + UEv United Evangelical + Uv Universalist + USS Union Sunday School + WM Wesleyan Methodist + + +[Illustration: ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: ALLEN COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: ASHTABULA COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: ATHENS COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: AUGLAIZE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: BROWN COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: CARROLL COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: CLARK COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: COSHOCTON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: CRAWFORD COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: DARKE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: DEFIANCE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: DELAWARE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: ERIE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: FRANKLIN COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: FULTON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: GALLIA COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: GREENE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: GUERNSEY COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: HANCOCK COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: HARDIN COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: HARRISON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: HENRY COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: HIGHLAND COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: HOCKING COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: HOLMES COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: HURON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: JACKSON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: JEFFERSON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: KNOX COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: LAKE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: LAWRENCE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: LICKING COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: LOGAN COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: LUCAS COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MADISON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MAHONING COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MARION COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MEDINA COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MEIGS COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MERCER COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MIAMI COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MONROE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MORROW COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: NOBLE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: OTTAWA COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: PAULDING COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: PERRY COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: PICKAWAY COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: PIKE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: PORTAGE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: PUTNAM COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: ROSS COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: SANDUSKY COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: SCIOTO COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: SENECA COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: STARK COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: TRUMBULL COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: UNION COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: VAN WERT COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: VINTON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: WARREN COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: WILLIAMS COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: WOOD COUNTY, OHIO] + +[Illustration: WYANDOT COUNTY, OHIO] + + + + +APPENDIX + +ACTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERCHURCH COOPERATION OF THE OHIO RURAL LIFE +ASSOCIATION + + +On June 14 and 15, 1916, a meeting was held of the Committee on +Interchurch Cooperation of the Ohio Rural Life Association at Columbus. +This Committee is composed largely of superintendents and representatives +of several of the leading denominations of the State. They met for the +purpose of making a thorough study of country church conditions and were +determined, if possible, to devise a remedy. The following were among +those present: Bishop Wm. F. Anderson of the Methodist Episcopal Church; +the Rt. Rev. Theodore Irving Reese of the Protestant Episcopal Church; +Superintendents, I. J. Cahill, W. J. Grimes, A. W. Jamieson, Robert E. +Pugh, E. S. Rothrock and Omer S. Thomas of the Disciples of Christ, the +United Presbyterian, the Presbyterian, the Congregational and Christian +churches; Dr. Washington Gladden, officially representing the +Congregational churches; Rev. C. W. Brugh, representing the Reformed +Church, and Rev. E. L. Averitt, representing Rev. Tileston F. Chambers, +Superintendent of the Baptist churches. Superintendent Rev. C. W. Kurtz of +the United Brethren, and Superintendent C. S. Beck of the Methodist +Protestant Church have also endorsed the action of the meeting. + +After a thorough discussion of rural church conditions, the following +measures were agreed upon as remedies: + +Interchurch cooperation in every locality to create conditions favorable +to the development of Christian character, to build a strong, wholesome, +attractive community, to hold community religious services and social +gatherings and to render all forms of social service needed in the +community but not rendered by other institutions. + +Where there is now no resident pastor in a township the combining of all +churches so far as possible either in one church or in one circuit or +federated church under one pastor who should be held responsible for +rendering social and religious service in the township. + +To bring this to pass all ministers now visiting and preaching in a +community should by their preaching exalt christian unity and the Kingdom +of God, and in preaching and personal work try to prepare the people for +acceptance of a policy of community service. + +To secure cooperation of ministers: + +Preparation and sending of bulletins to every pastor, containing program +and making clear reasons for adopting it. + +Preparation and sending of letters from this Committee to every rural +pastor, urging acceptance of higher ideals of service as here set forth. + +Preparation and sending to country pastors of frequent bulletins +containing information and description of notable examples of good country +church work. + +Appointment of sub-committees to secure action by denominational bodies +approving program of Committee. + +The following statements of policy and methods were also adopted: + +In a township or community requiring more than one church or pastor there +should be a "federation of churches," that is, a joint committee of +pastors and delegates officially appointed by the several churches to +learn and meet all needs, religious or social, which require cooperation +or concerted action. + +In communities whose compactness permits and whose population and +resources require there should be only one congregation and pastor, but +where two or more churches exist, churches should be united organically in +a single denominational church, the denomination to be determined on the +give and take plan. If organic union in a denominational church is not +feasible, a federated church should be formed. + +In a township or community where population and resources are inadequate +to support more than one pastor, but where the population is so +distributed that more than one place of worship and organized church are +necessary, a federated circuit should be formed and a common pastor +employed. The several churches should be officially represented on a joint +committee who shall act for the circuit not only in employing the common +pastor, but also in learning and meeting all needs, religious and social, +which require cooperation and concerted action. + +In the forming or re-forming of circuits it should be brought to pass that +the various fields served by one pastor should be as close together as +possible. To make the minister's field as compact as possible, +interdenominational circuits should be formed. + +The rural ministry should, it possible, be so distributed that in each +township there shall be a resident pastor. + +Measures to prevent the recurrence of over-churched conditions should be +taken by every branch of the church. Each should determine not to organize +churches where they are not needed or certain to be needed. In a new +community needing but one church, an expression of the people should be +obtained as to the choice of the church to be established. The desires of +the largest number should be followed. + +Where several little churches exist in a sparsely settled community and a +union or federation is not possible or advisable, consideration should be +given to the plan of having all these withdraw, and inviting a branch of +the church not represented locally to come in and organize a single +church. + +In the exchange or withdrawal of churches reciprocity should be at least +State-wide in its extent. + +Where a denomination is given control or dominance in a community by +withdrawal of other denominations, the continuance of that control or +dominance should be conditional on the church and minister maintaining in +their service a high degree of efficiency--the standard of efficiency to +be determined by the denominational leaders who should formulate a few +simple principles by which the usefulness of a church can be measured. The +denomination holding a field should, for a reasonable length of time, +report to those withdrawing as to progress. + + +Printed in the United States of America + + + + +The following pages contain advertisements of a few of the Macmillan books +on kindred subjects. + + + +RELIGIOUS HAND BOOKS + +(_New and Not Reprints_) + +Each Sixty Cents + + +THE NEW OPPORTUNITY OF THE CHURCH + +BY ROBERT E. SPEER + +This volume very suitably follows Dr. Speer's _The Christian Man, the +Church, and the War_, dealing as it does with the present responsibility +of the Church. + + +THE CHURCH FACING THE FUTURE + +BY WILLIAM ADAMS BROWN + +Dr. Brown discusses four big questions: First, Where the War Found the +Church; second, What the Church did for the War; third, What the War did +for the Church; and fourth, Where the War Leaves the Church. + + +DEMOCRATIC CHRISTIANITY; SOME PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCH IN THE DAYS JUST +AHEAD + +BY FRANCIS J. MCCONNELL + +"We have in mind the tasks of to-day as they confront the Christian +Church," writes Bishop McConnell. + + +GOD'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WAR + +BY EDWARD S. DROWN + +Dr. Drown discusses this very interesting question in terse and vigorous +prose. + + +THE TWENTIETH CENTURY CRUSADE + +BY LYMAN ABBOTT + +Written by one who has an exultant faith that never in the history of the +past has there been so splendid a demonstration of the extent and power of +the Christ spirit as to-day. + + +THE WAY TO LIFE + +BY HENRY CHURCHILL KING + +A discussion of the Sermon on the Mount, similar to that in Dr. King's +former book _The Ethics of Jesus_. Besides rewriting them, he has added +material on the war and the teachings of Jesus. + + +THE CHRISTIAN MAN, THE CHURCH AND THE WAR + +BY ROBERT E. SPEER + +Dr. Speer here discusses the essentials of a problem which has exercised +Christian men since the beginning of the war. He deals with it sanely and +in a manner that will be considered distinctly helpful. + + +NEW HORIZON OF STATE AND CHURCH + +BY W. H. P. FAUNCE + +"Broad, profound scholarship, close relationship with progressive +sentiment all over the land, and unusual powers of keen analysis and +graphic statement are forceful elements in _The New Horizon of State and +Church_."--_Philadelphia North American._ + + + + +_BY THE SAME AUTHORS_ + +The Country Church: The Decline of its Influence and the Remedy + +BY CHARLES OTIS GILL AND GIFFORD PINCHOT + +_Cloth, 12o, $1.25_ + +Is the country church growing in size and power, or declining? Is it doing +effectually the work which belongs to it? These are in the main the +questions which Charles Otis Gill and Gifford Pinchot consider in their +book "The Country Church." The book is not a collection of opinions, as it +was found that there were almost as many who believed thoroughly in the +country church and the work which it is doing as there were those who were +doubtful of its efficacy. The volume is rather made up of facts brought +forward by the personal investigations of the authors, and conclusions +based on these facts. + +"Mr. Gill and Mr. Pinchot, collaboring in this problem of rural life, have +given us a book which will at once become an authority in its +field."--_Christian Work._ + +"The facts and figures are definite and illumined by a myriad of +side-lights."--_Boston Transcript._ + +"Differs from almost all the others because of the thoroughness of the +investigation and the soundness of the conclusions."--_San Francisco +Chronicle._ + +"Deserves most thoughtful consideration.... Should arouse attention and +stimulate effort to restore to the country church the influence that it is +losing."--_Christian Endeavor World._ + + + +_FORTHCOMING RELIGIOUS BOOKS_ + +Prophecy and Authority: A Study in the History of the Doctrine and +Interpretation of Scripture. + +BY KEMPER FULLERTON + +Professor of Old Testament Language and Literature, Oberlin Graduate +School of Theology + +_Cloth, 12mo._ + +The purpose of this volume is two-fold--to discuss the principles and the +interpretation of Messianic prophecy in view of the recent revival of +Millenialist claims, and to re-open the question of the nature of the +Bible as a principle of authority in Protestant theology. + +The author seeks to trace the way in which the methods of interpretation +and the doctrines of Scripture affect each other in the Church's +interpretation of prophecy and to show how the scientific principles of +interpretation adopted by the reformers inevitably lead to the abandonment +of the Millenialist theory and dogmatic view of Scripture, and that these +results are at the same time religiously desirable. + + +Studies in Mark's Gospel + +BY A. T. ROBERTSON, M.A., D.D., LL.D. + +Professor of New Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist +Theological Seminary + +_Cloth, 12mo._ + +This book aims to help the modern man to see Jesus as Mark saw Him in the +first glow of enthusiasm under Peter's preaching. It is readable and yet +thoroughly scholarly and makes use of the results of synoptic criticism to +show the historical foundation of our knowledge of the life of Christ. It +is not commentary, nor yet exposition, but a critical discussion of the +chief aspects of this earliest of our Gospels. The work is a real +introduction to Mark's Gospel and will unlock its treasures for all who +read it. + + + +_A NEW VOLUME IN THE BIBLE FOR HOME AND SCHOOL SERIES_ + +Commentary on the Epistle of Paul to the Romans + +BY EDWARD INCREASE BOSWORTH + +_Cloth, 12mo._ + +The author of this Commentary has endeavored to help those who use it read +Paul's letter to the Romans with due regard to the pre-suppositions which +possessed Paul's mind and the minds of those to whom it was addressed, no +matter to what extent these pre-suppositions have passed out of modern +thought. He has tried to do this in such a way as to bring out the +essential, vital facts of Christian experience which may persist under +many forms of changing pre-suppositions. + + + +_OTHER VOLUMES IN_ + +The Bible for Home and School Series + +SHAILER MATHEWS, GENERAL EDITOR + + GENESIS, by PROFESSOR H. G. MITCHELL $.90 + DEUTERONOMY, by PROFESSOR W. G. JORDAN .75 + JUDGES, by PROFESSOR EDWARD L. CURTIS .75 + JOB, by PROFESSOR GEORGE A. BARTON .90 + ISAIAH, by PROFESSOR JOHN E. MCFADYEN .90 + AMOS, HOSEA, AND MICAH, by PROFESSOR J. M. POWIS SMITH .75 + MATTHEW, by PROFESSOR A. T. ROBERTSON .60 + MARK, by PROFESSOR M. W. JACOBUS .75 + ACTS, by PROFESSOR GEORGE H. GILBERT .75 + GALATIANS, by PROFESSOR B. W. BACON .50 + EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS, by REVEREND GROSS ALEXANDER .50 + HEBREWS, by PROFESSOR E. J. GOODSPEED .50 + + +_VOLUMES IN PREPARATION_ + + I SAMUEL BY PROFESSOR L. W. BATTEN + PSALMS BY REVEREND J. P. PETERS + JOHN BY PROFESSOR SHAILER MATHEWS + I AND II CORINTHIANS BY PROFESSOR J. S. RIGGS + + + THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_. + +Many tables have been split and keys have been added to enhance +readability in this text version. + +In the key to the maps on page 146, each symbol has been replaced with a +[description] in brackets. + +Punctuation has been corrected without note. + +The following misprints have been corrected: + "Surburban" corrected to "Suburban" (Table of Contents) + "opportunites" corrected to "opportunities" (page 75) + "surburban" corrected to "suburban" (page 111) + "representin" corrected to "representing" (page 235) + +Other than the corrections listed above, inconsistencies in spelling and +hyphenation have been retained from the original. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Six Thousand Country Churches, by Charles Otis Gill + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIX THOUSAND COUNTRY CHURCHES *** + +***** This file should be named 33587.txt or 33587.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/5/8/33587/ + +Produced by Tom Roch and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images produced by Core Historical Literature in Agriculture +(CHLA), Cornell University and The Internet Archives.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |