It has long been recognized as an
economic waste, to say nothing of
the spiritual side of the matter, to
have three or four churches where
one would suffice; such a condition
works a hardship on the pastors, who
are compelled to serve at a salary
far below enough to support them
selves and families. Overcrowding
of churches also means that the con
gregations are small, whereas if there
were only enough churches for the
population each parish would be
large enough to support the one or
two churches deemed necessary for
the village.
In the past it has been impossible
to get anywhere in such a co-opera
tive movement-, because each denomi
nation felt that it must by all means
have its own pastor—that even va
rious divisions of the Baptists, Meth
odists, etc., could not unite and meet
under one roof. Happily the world
is progressing along more tolerant
and wider lines, and the plan of the
Ohio churches trill be watched with
great interest.
The report says that over 1,000
nJ-vndoned churches have been, found
in this one State alone; this is taken
to indicate that there are too many
churches in proportion to the number
/f people able to support them. A
man and wife who give their lives to
the ministry are certainly entitled to
a decent living, and too many congre
gations simply means that many min
isters and their families are eking
out a bare existence.
An Endless Chain.
From the Omaha World-Herald.
Life in Texas apparently !• just one
primary after another.
