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
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THE CHURCH FACING THE FUTURE
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DEMOCRATIC CHRISTIANITY; SOME PROBLEMS OF THE CHURCH IN THE DAYS JUST
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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