The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-07
RELIGION AS A BUSINESS.

WnltOver else the Chaprlen move ment may leave as its heritage to New Haven when it goes. it is certain that there will be two valuable lessons. Some weeks ago at preliminary meeting of the city executive commit tee, which has general charss of the campaign locally, held In Calvary Baptist church. B. c Chapman. the brother of the evangelist Rev Dr J Wilbur Chapman, spoke. MT. Chap man laid great stress upon the need of the church generally, as he saw 1t, of being organized on q more busi- ness-lIke basis. He then went on to cx- plain the business scheme, born of long experience, OH which the Chap man campaign would be run while it would be in New Haven.
 But all such things are not nearly so impressive in the telling as they are when once we have them in our midst and can see for ourselves. The Chap man campaign is at once a matter that is cut-and-dried and, at the same time, is as spontaneous as the events of the college boys life, however much like an Irish bull that may sound. That is to say these evangelists have found, after long experience. that cer- tain methods of work are the best. Agreeing on them, they go to work at each city they come to with the regularity of action of stage scene shifters Each evangelist has his par ticular department of the work One speaks to men the first Sunday; an- other the next. One with his wife gives his attention to the saloons and factories; another to the training. and instruction Of the personal workers in their duties One man is particularly fitted for speaking at the meeting for old people, which will undoubtedly be held in New Haven and than which no meeting will prove more pathetic. lnpre sweet, more touching
 !. Nhesregularity of the campaign methods are shown in various other ways. The evangelists are all quarter ed at one hotel here the Davenport. except those that come with their wives. Dr. Chapman always makes it a rule that the latter do not stay al the hotel with the rest. At the hotel every evening after the meetings they gather together for general planning and discussion of the situation, MT. Chapman is in charge of the business end of the campaign. Funds, printing and all general arrangements go through his hands. With telephone and typewriter, with secretary and messenger he stands at the lever, as 1t were, and controls the general movement. Realizing the power of the press, he has an assistant who act' solely as press agent for the meetings Everything is organized and cut-and- dried. Yet everything is spontaneous and dependent upon the situation al the moment and the development oi conditions. Seldom are plans made foi more than two or three days in ad. vance, Seldom do any of the evange. lists, except perhaps Dr. Chapman himself, announce the topic of theil next sermon more than an hour O two in advance and then, as likely a. not. any of them is likely to chang lis mind. as he rises to speak and talk on g topic which appeals to hin more as having. perhaps, 8 deeper ap plication to the audience before him Meetings are made long or short a the leader sees it is needed or advis able It is religion sanelv run, inevi table but flexible and in this regart the churches of New Haven can wei laarn a lesson from the campaign if il nothing else.
 The other valuable lesson above re far.ed to is the undenominationa character of the meetings and the ser
 sA |. One pub.ip to know, and it is tut lir : known. that Dr. Chapman gets hi commission from the preshy teriai ch arch, that he works, tn way. uude io aspsrNl guidAnc., and that he onc, was . 2astcr in Atbnnv Yf that dcnom il.aticn- Fsvcr from any word that h will eAy ~hfle he is in Now llsvel wl.. aa,- os his hAarsrs receive the i'm presstcr dat his or any other creed l the better. If man comes to mo tha is a Catholic" he said a; the Pol meeting sunday. '1 will a.k him R h Is good Catholic. If he h. all wel and good. If he is not. 1t will be m effort to make him ens, make him
 good Catholic, not soeal man of an s<her orred-" The Chapman move rn.nt s without crcetl except as
 cresAA, foumnatioh may be accepte zenunilv by all Christian believer: u is uased on the fatherhood of 60 am, u wol1o for thu building up. g f9s as it can. of the brotherhood (
 the church Whether f shall accnn rIisf this in New Haven is tn ba seer
 hut be that as t may, ti2e principiI
 like the one already mentioned, is or that the churches of the city may we