Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-03-24
FOR SUNDAY READING.
All Sorts of Opinions.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
RELIGIOUS ADVERTISING.

|
| No one who watches at alilclosely the
! efforts. now so frequent and earnest, to
apply business methods to the work
of the church, can fail to notice the
rather striking limitations which some
of these methods develop. Take, for
example. the matter OF advertising. A
great many churches, both metropolis
tan and rural. seem now to feel it nee
essary to come out and announce
| themselves and their advantages in a
more or less conspicuous way They
advertise their services at length in the
newspapers, CIR on colored bulletins
prominently displayed about the
church building. Ministers vie with
each other in the striking phraseology
lof their topics for discourse, and see to
lit that we know Of them duly in adj
vance. The musical program becomes
a sort of sacred concert also duly her
alded--in which cornet solos, Violin OBJ
lisatos and harp accomplishments take
Heading parts. There are popular lec-
lures. and pcnics, and excursions, and
shows, all adduced as proofs Of the
church's social activity, and all widely
1advertised. In those ehufches which
have sought PARTICULARS 70 reach s.the
masses the advertising business has
sometimes been carried 10 point well
fitted to arouse the envy of the propri-
l5etor of a bargain store ] is as tho
religion had become Il eoninlodity TO
be spread abroad in the community by
means Of any device Which would show
the pubic what it was like and where
it could be had.
Yet it still remains @ show that re-
sort to this kind of worldly practice
has contributed in the least Ii the sue
cess of The church. Indeed there is
good reason for thinking that it has
often distinctly injured the church, in
both Standing and influence. III may
be good business. in The popular
phrase. but it is pretty certain. sooner
or later, u strike thoughtful people as
Inappropriate We can ROT ignore a
certain iiscongruity about III Tire prac-
teal results too, are diSa appointing.
One hut appeals to common observa-
ton in saving that, With scarcely an
exception. the churches which have adj
vertiss d themselves the mast have ae-
e9mpiished, whether IN the social sDr in
the spiritual field, the least Hardly
one OF them occupies in any conmuni-
ts a position Of the first Importance
There may be crowded pews, large coll
lections ard the hustle and hum of
great external activity But the results
IN the shape OF Tangible good accom-
piishsd somehow fail to correspond.
The reason is not. W., think, far 10
seek However successful the church
has az any time been ii has always
been in danger Of forgetting that its
power lies IL Its gentle persuasiveness.
ITS apillty 10 win support by appeal 10
the hearts and minds Of men. What
ever else religion may or may not be-
the consensus of reversnt opinion un-
questionabL is that II Is not a COM
modify, 10 BE- hawked noisilv about the
streets, orRthrust into mems faces al,
every turn. The acceptance OF II is not
TO be urged in the same way that one
IS urged 10 buy a suit OF clothes or a
cheap book. Its appeal lies. rather. in
3Fthe Inherent attiactiveness OF the thing
Itself. lis siecfs-s s in the setlaidness
Ief the truth which It teaches. The pro-
cess IS, undoubtedly, {. SLOW one. The
sneef Of tht. practical man. ana fns
dasiic 70 make II stu. in the waa.fd Ayill
l'i"uptless continue TO urge ministers
land churches 20 thrust themselves BE-
tslfe NJ public eye. albeit With The SIM
geeFe nope that thereby they may save
slseals'. Eiit he great work &c TIE
Ienurch in the regeneration of MN sees
en- i.9w, a $ I has always gone on. in a
niare dignitisd and unos,entatious
course Any one who thinks hat. in
fre,igion. advertising pays can no,
90 better than y examine. in any COM
+ mlaitN, The carers of churches which
make the most OF it.
lNew York SUM-
Ads eiitFf Is aetIaliN a decrease in