The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-11-21

The Entire City to be Visited on One Day
by Representatives of All the Sunday
Schools, for the Purpose of Inviting
Those not now Identified with Sunday
School and Church to Become So.
Probably the greatest cooperative
religious movement ever undertaken
in this part of the state, and one
which promises very large results, is
now being planned by the officers of
the County S. S. Association, assisted
by an Advisory Committee. II is ex-
pected that on one day, Thursday, Dec.
9Th. representatives from the Sunday
schools will go forth and call on every
family in their respective communities.
The purpose is, "First-To extend u
cordial invitation to those not identified
with Sunday school and church life to
become so, but in no case to specify
particular church. Second-To gather
on uniform blanks such information con-
cerning each home as will enable pas
tors and other church workers to intel
ligently follow up the visit"
II business interests demand that a
directory-maker call at each home in
order that the name and address of each
person be furnished, If the interests OF
political parties demand that each voter
in the community be canvassed during
the campaign, in order that his views
on the political issues at stake may be
known. Sunday school and church in
terests equally demand that the facts, in
any community, relating to their work,
be placed in the hands of the pastors
and church officials, in order that their
work may be intelligently directed and
their efforts productive of the best sue
cess. This seems all the more necessary
since careful investigation reveals the
fact that there are eleven millions Of
children In this country outside Of any
Sunday school, besides multitudes of
grown people who never attend any
church Equally careful investigation
reveals the fact that the majority of
these are not in frontier states, but in
thickly settled portions OF the country,
with churches all about them. 1t is
therefore the purpose OF those having
this matter in charge to find out how
many such there are in Reynoldsville.
The advantages Of cooperative ef-
fort on the part of the churches for get
ing at these facts are many. Since the
territory is to be carefully districted
there will be no ground missed and none
overlapped as would be the case II the
work were done along individual church
lines. Since the workers are to go out
in pairs, all appearance OF proselyting
will be eliminated. Since all direct
personal work is to be left for each local
church to do in its own way after the
preferences of those visited have been
expressed, there need be no fear on the
part of any that the visitors are coming
to "talk religion" They are simply
coming to make neighborly call, and
at the same time try to ascertain some
facts the Sunday schools and churches
have right to know. Since the work
of the entire city is to be done at once
the expense of tho undertaking will be
reduced to a minimum.
This is no experimental scheme. 1t
has been tried in large number of
cities and counties in this country, and
wherever it has been followed up by the
local church has produced wonderful
results. The details OF the plan will ap-
pear in these columns next week.
w. S, STONE, Chair. Advisory Com.