The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-27
HONEST ADYERrISLNG.

AAONEci <1DI EhEfSiNG.
A church in Scotland found itself I'M
able to pay the minister his salary of
$500, In this difficulty it accepted the
offer of a soap firm to pay the bill if
the church would allow the firms ad-
vertisement to be hung in the front gall
lery. This offer held good for five
years. The church, after elaboration,
accepted the offer
At first sight this looks somewhat
shocking, but perhaps it is not more
so than some things which $50" with
out comment. 1t is frank and honest
arrangement, and that is more than
can be said Of some advertising uses
to which meeting-houses have long been
and are now put. For instance, many
business and professional men use a
meeting-house to advertise the fact
that they are good and trustworthy
members of society. They go there
regularly, look respectable and do the
proper thing by the contribution box
They do these things to be seen Of
men and women and to advertise them
selves. Some singers and players of
music use meeting houses to advertise
their gifts and accomplishments In
And occasionally an occupant of a
pulpit uses a meeting house to adver-
tise the fact that he has brains and
the very newest thing in theology.
OF course nothing can be said in de-
fence of the hypocritical uses of meet
ng-houses for advertising purposes,
but quite an argument could be made
for their use in the honest way indicat-
ed in Scotland. Business and religion
are not supposed to have very intimate
connection nowadays, but it takes not
a little business planning and skill to
run a'church successfully. Money must
be had, and it is obtained by willing
and forced contributions, or by allur-
ing devices like grab-bags, the showing
of pretty female feet with the rest
of the pretty female concealed by a
curtain, a kiss for dime, etc, etc. 1t
can reasonably be argued that an hon
est soap advertisement in a meeting
house is not more hostile to good taste
or to true and undefiled religion than
many of the business methods that are
used by the churches A great deal Of
| honest advertising could be done in
| the meeting houses in a way that would
not be shocking and might actually be
| improving. For instance, soap adver-
tisements might say that cleanliness is
next to goodness and inculcate the
necessity Of being clean inside as well
as outside. Clothing advertisements
could call attention to the need of be-
ing clothed in the beauty of holiness as
well as the garments of fashion. Book
sellers could call attention to the fact
I that a good book is a great help In
stepping heayenward, and could insin-
/ uate that their devilish poor books were
only useful as horrible examples. This
would be the truth and wouldn't hurt
/ the sale Of the poor books Butchers
| grocers and bakers could say that
/ faith is not all that is needed for a
good life, and could recommend good
works, and the buying Of good meat
unadulterated groceries and honest
loaves OF bread of them.
| And so forth and SO on. Honest
and proper advertising in meeting
houses wouldn't be morally worse than
some of the dishonest advertising and
other things that are now done in them
and the money it would bring might dc
away with church-fairs, and some other
things that are now done in the name
| of the Lord.
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a GOOD TIME COMING.
| A foa Ji,,e a., M