The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-09-27
STRANGERS ARE WELCOME"
But II Doesn't Follow That They WIN
Be Told So in Every Church.

do Aoiu w Ah away SeNsNAs
Mr.. Bol's oonsummate editorial wisdom
diseerned the crying need Of informing
the millions Of adoring readers OF the La
dies Home Journal Just how cordially a
stranger Is received in the average city
church, Strangers cordially welcome,
is the usual sign on our houses OF pub.
lie worship; and, Il there be any fraud
| in this, the Ladies' Home Journal was
the proper agency for It's exposure.
The results Of the investigation are be-
ing published. A certain Miss Laura
smith il already famous in the role OF
Mr.. Bok's special commissioner, She
dressed herself somewhat STABILITY" and
went the roands ON Sunday in New York,
Brooklyn and Boston, IL the pastor or
any Of the congregation bounded up after
tho service TO clasp her warmly by the
hand, Miss Laura Smith made a note OF
the fact in her memorandum book. II no
one fell upon her in this fashion, she like
wist made n record Of the fact. In this
wa, she compiled the alarming statistics
which the Ladies' Home Journal has
printed. There are pious souls who may
think il an appalling exhibit. In "a Bos'
ton churches but one pastor spoke 10 her.
In four Boston churches only four mem
bers took her by the hand In 10 the Bos'
tonese were solid in paying no attention
10 her whatever, Boston, Il Is true, has
a reputation for chilliness, hut in Greater
New York the conditions We're the same.
In 70 out Of 81 New York churches MT.
Bok's special commissioner was given the
cold storage treatment. No one spoke 70
her. no one inquired il she were a Chris.
tian. no one asked her 90 Join the Bible
class. In five New York churches, Il Is
true. she was greeted by 10 people, and
two pastors out OF the 81 managed TO
sprint down the aisle in time TO give her
the desired honey feeling, But, on the
whole. Mr.. Bok's commissioner was able
20 report that in her opinion, strangers
were not cordially welcomed 8,
The churches are so often attacked
along this line that one is glad TO see IN
various secular quarters disposition 70
defend them The Tribune OF New York
makes the point. very appropriately, that
strangers in all the churches are wei
come" They certainly are. Sometimes,
there is a crusty usher. or pew holder
who acts like a monopolist under hre'
But generally sneaking. the sign, Strang-
ers cordially welcome Is literally true
description OF the inner atmosphere; what
the persons represented by Mr.. Box com
missioner seem TO demand is much more:
They want TO be welcomed ana OF
course there i real difference between
being welcome and welcomed, Beng wei
coined involves an active demonstration
evnloded directly at the stranger within
Inc, gates. Translated into the language
nj nrdinarv society. il means: Delighted
ia see YOU; do take off your things,
"And how is dear sweet. little Dorothy! :
Mr.. Bok's commissioner was looking for
this kind OF greeting expressed IN Ian
guare beftting the religious atHosphere'
II is remarkable how many people con,
denim the churches il they do not ind
themselves welcomed in this decorative
style. Yet the churches are placed IN an
embarrassing position because there is an
equally large number of other people who
prefer 10 be lust WELCOME and then
Left alone. A hard ministerial hitter from
Uolvoke. in discussing the "unchurched
AZ The Westfield Baptist conference the
other dav. gripped the truth when he LAID
down a few plain facts. He was speak
ing of the class that is satisfied to. be
merely welcome: 'Tf they chance TO drop
into a church they do not care to have
a committee Of six rush mp after service,
tell them that the committee relolces 70
see the hayward children on the right
road. and that the church is at their
s eri,ie n a% Wednesday night" The num-
loeia, ~, ,nor Who feel disgust over such
,a ~. i formidable But how are the
o ahr,nb 70 d;stingnisb the one class from
~ o.borS The Situation thus becomes a
delicate one.
uG Tta t oh . ,ba, worry many churches
% =, nc tbo a'n evtram " limit Of discretion in
10 - 'a .e mola tbe strangers "feel at
LL,srms,, Y Sons;tive n tbis parrot criticism
l ~ oei1noss tbav organize their Christian
~ n rusi IN brigades and turn them
los mon the wretcbed individuals who
h luvss M .n d t% IN on sunday morning
rnappen ~ I hpr " The forlorn creature Is
LOT luiet ro nU't from tba moment that he
i,arH ,'.;,h;n r"" Tho vast;bnle He has to
SUD ~ Mill ,,nhor !, orJar ~ enjoy the re.
ngh. we us"e ;roons mon seat He is
pose h ., :" With service and hvmn.books.
pofapa ho can cet ont az the sacred edifce
after The benediction he has been invited