PERILS IN BOTH COUNTRY AND CITY.
By Editor
THAT not only indifference to spiritual things, but positive irreligion, is rapidly increasing throughout the land in both city and country, is a fact no longer to be disguised. Our readers are aware of the facts recently brought out in the conference of evangelical ministers in New York, relative to the deplorable spiritual condition of the cities; and it will be remembered that in the Syracuse convention one minister made the statement, which was not challenged, that the proportion of church-goers was no greater in the country than in the city. The following from the New York Christian Advocate is to the same import:— The eyes of philanthropists are turned to the cities as centers of corruption, presenting the chief obstacles in the progress of Christianity. It seems to be taken for granted that the country districts are comparatively safe. It is, doubtless, the case, that less flagrant vice and dangerous ignorance and lawlessness exist in the rural districts than in the cities. But changes are rapidly taking place in many parts of the country also. There are large districts where American farmers once tilled the soil and inhabited the villages, where now foreign populations are coming in and taking possession. Communities made up of Protestant Christians a few years ago, have given place to Roman Catholics and infidels. A Baptist paper says: "The other day we were told of a farming community near a thriving town in Iowa, where a certain road came to be known as 'Baptist Road,' because every farm on either side for four miles was owned by a good Baptist farmer. To-day not one of these farms is owned by a Baptist. And the trouble is that the people who have come to till these acres are not of a character easily reached by evangelical religion." The name of Wesleyville was given to a certain village in Western Pennsylvania many years ago, because the settlers in and about the place were generally Methodists, and a flourishing Methodist Church grew up there. The town still bears the name, and the church still occupies the old site, but it only maintains a precarious existence. The Methodist farmers have emigrated, and their places are filled by German skeptics and men who care not for religion. Country churches by scores have been abandoned of late years, because of these changes. While men are seeking to solve the problem of city evangelization, would it not be well to give more thought to the question of country evangelization? Among Methodists in early times there was no distinction made between the city and the country in the appointment of preachers. The rural districts enjoyed the ministry of the strongest men, and Methodism grew and flourished. It is useless to disguise the fact that a different policy prevails now, and it is needless to deny that baneful results are being realized in many places.