Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-20
Reasons for Making Canvass
and Method to be Followed
Are Explained.
TAKE CENSUS SATURDAY
Directions Are Given Workers. and
Instructions Are Furnished for
milling Out Cards.

census OF the city next saturday II
morning which is known as the house 4
o house visitation canvass. The /
work will be accomplished with the |
aid of about 800 workers and every |
home in the city will be visited. Be
low is given a general outline of the |
work and the plan to be followed in
making the canvass.
Reasons for Effort.
Every experienced city pastor knows
that when he undertakes to direct his
his first difficulty is to determine his
Congregational boundar-
les overlap and are undefinable, re-
movals in and out are constant and
and there are many who
are not recognized as being under the
care of any particular church.
To supply this lack, to give every
church and Sunday school an accurate
record of those to whom they have
right to minister, and incidentally to
invite all to attend the house of God,
is the purpose of an interdenomina-
tlOnal VISITATION.
Much investigation has proven that
almost every person, even of those not
attending church. has a decided prefer
ence for some particular denomination.
Hence the necessity of each church in
the community getting in touch with
those who prefer its teachings.
If this knowledge is to be sought by
the churches working separately, each
home in the community must be Wis
tied as many times, at least, as there
are local churches, which is objection
able for the following reasons:
Repeated visits by representatives Of
one church after another, especially
where there are many, as in city,
must tend to repel rather than attract
many of the persons sought to interest.
1t is a great waste of valuable time,
money and energy, and for such waste
is accountable as much as for failure
to give the invitation
1t is productive of UNCONVENTIONAL
friction Frequent calls by represen-
tatives of one denomination on fami-
lies belonging to some other will sure
ly cause misunderstanding.
The greater results of this visitation
effort come from the subsequent local
church and school effort which is con
tinuous, yet even from the one morn
ing's work the following may be ex-
pected:
A profound impression on all classes
as the volunteer workers go forth with
no other motive than TO do good. Go
| ing about 10 do good, without salary.
A practical demonstration of church
unity! I'VE are not divided, all one
body We" win be most beautifully il
Illustrated by the workers from differ
ent denominations going forth together
| Cases of real need, both temporal and
spiritual are brought TO light Certifi
Gates OF church membership, and mem
bcrships not yet transferred from otheI
places will be found and deposited il
the local churches where they belong
How Work LIS Done.
The following directions are given III,
workers and are also in part for mem
/
out and fill in the coupon from THU
paper Each visitor should repor
| without fail for work at o'clocl
Saturday morning, May %. at The
headquarters in the ward in which
he has been assigned. If voluntee
has not yet been assigned he should
make it known by reporting to TIL,
| q N nj m hnn n-t cf Ia,
ward in which he lives. More work
ers are yet needed. Each worke
must go in person TO the ward head
quarters to secure supplies and fina
instruction Saturday from the ware
captain, must bring pencil and al
extra worker and all should come
II only for one or two hours. TIT
workers will go out two and two rep
rescnting as far as possible two de
i nominations and each couple will
have about SO homes to visit. Ever.
home is to be visited regardless o
class or creed and the census of CIV
cry family and every individual i
to be taken. The aim is simply t
get information for the future of TIL,
tributed without distinction. TIL,
census will be taken rain or shine. A
soon as the work is done all card
will be returned to central headquar
tiers where the cards will be classi
fed and distribution made to tn,
pastors.
The form on this page is facsimi,
of the card to be used in gatherin!
statistics. Members OF FAMILIES. board
ers and roomers can greatly help il
this work by cutting out the coupon
filling 2it in carefully and com
pletely and by handing it to the Wis
itors who call at the home. 1t i
hoped that all families will plan t.
have some one at home and read
to report to the visitors, who will
have little time to talk or to ste
longer than is necessary to CAREFUL
and clearly fill out the card
should Re Complete.
! Every question on this card is i'm
portant. Much confusion and los