The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-08-30
CHURCH MUST BE uP-To-DATE
New York Reverend Gives Sane and
Sensible Arguments Why Church
Should Advertise.

Sensible Arguments why Churcn
Should Advertise.
Church advertising has been
subject of considerable discussion, ant
concerning it opinions are likely tt
differ widely. Some pastors declare i
proper and sane proposition, while
others see it in the making common
of sacred things.
In a recent interview, Rev. Christ
ian f. Reisner, pastor of the Grace
Methodist Episcopal church of New
York, discussed church advertising as
follows:
Recent changes in theology and
Bible Interpretation have laid the basis
for new enthusiasm which fits and
interprets religion to hearers, until
they are stirred and developed. But
people have fallen out of the habit of
church attendance. They are busy
and unacquainted with the force OF
this new life. They must then, now,
as never, be turned towards the church
and aroused to the Importance, help
fullness and easy possibility of the
religious development.
The word advertise" occurs twice
in the Bible and publish" one hun
dred times. Preach the gospel means
publish the good tidings. There were
no presses and so Paul wrote letters
everywhere, to be read and passed on.
Wesley wrote dozens of books and
peddled them persistently. His sue
sessors the Methodists, own the
largest publishing house in the world,
and their papers furnish no mean
mediums of advertising.
Advertising is calling attention to
facts. 1t is the most vital assistant
in the business world today. Truth
is back of it all. The church can no
longer exist by mere authority, or get
a hearing by Anticipated methods. 1t
must be up-to-date in presentation of
facts. 1t must get hearing in the din
caused by the rush of the material
world.
Why object to church advertising?
Look at few criticisms:
"A sacred subject is made common"
We have passed the day when a man
has different code for the church and
business house. There can be no d.
yorce between religion and business.
The latter is, after all, only pure NOR
ais. Sacred things are not stored up
in churches. No building is sacred
unless it is made so by the individual
When religion becomes more common
among men the world will be better
"It lessons religious appeal by
cheapening it." The fact remains
that they seldom give personal religion
any notice If brought within their at
tention, old memories stirred will lead
to action The word church" facing
them in prominent places constantly
will arouse old home and boyhood
scenes and youths customs and prom
ises. Publicity cheapens nothing. II
raises the standard Of goods. The
most widely advertised articles bring
the biggest prices. An empty, dilap
idated rutty church cheapens religion
more than any other thing.
at spoils the preachers dignity
Ministerial dignity ossifies sameas
do the bandages OF the mummy
They never bend. they never touch
present-day life: they deal in dead
theological platitudes, as powerless
in giving torch-leadiug light as a tai
low dip is compared with an arc light
Better be man with no external
prerogatives. Character is the best
badge to wear. God will honor good
seed if soWn without artificial dig
nifty.
1T tends to materiaiize the spirit
ual" All internal impressions are
either caused by external things or
express themselves in a material
way The most sacred religion known
that Of husband and wife. comes
from love aroused by sight Of face
or picture. That is poor religious
feeling that does not lead to honest
dealing and visit to The poor and
sick When mysticism is banished
and the naturalism Of religion is en-