Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/854

 834 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

as the kingdom of God has faded away, and there lies before it "there discovered kingdom of God on earth."

It is not the object of this paper to elaborate a program of reform. This can be worked out only through experience. A great many schemes have been suggested to prevent the present decay of the rural church, such as more music, brief liturgy, stereopticon, sensational methods, religious periodicals, enlarged giving, longer pastorates, proper apparatus, distribution of sermons, varied prayer meetings, blackboards, short sermons, political themes, rural missionaries, a visual service, and ecclesiastical superintendents. But as bulwarks of oak and rock will not check the ebb of the tide while the moon is upheaving the waters with drawing force, so no shortsighted reinforcements of present church methods will check the ebb of church decay so long as the drawing power of centralization is pulling the multitudes into social centers. In broad outline, however, the following would be the program of the church seeking to lead in the amelioration of rural life.

The church must, in the first place, secure unity in social action, if not in belief. This may be secured by a scientific knowledge of man physiologically and psychologically; by a scientific knowledge of society and its movements ; by a true vision of the kingdom of God; by the Christ-like desire to sacrifice sectarian ambition for the good of the community. Secondly, the church must elaborate a program of social reform. This may be done by a scientific study of the social structure of the community ; by a clear understanding and appreciation of its needs ; by a clear vision of the ends of individual and social welfare ; by a careful study of the casual conditions and connec- tions ; by a survey of the existing methods of amelioration actually in use, and by deriving the underlying principles there- from.

Finally, this program may be realized by stimulating or insti- tuting all institutions which may help in the working out of this program ; i. e., by conserving the home, and developing therein a happy, self-educating, and resourceful life ; by promoting the centralization of the rural schools, and by securing the use of