Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-12
LOCAL MAN HEADS
BIG INDUSTRIAL
ORGANIZATION
National Evangelistic Founda-
ton Is Created by A. M.
Bruner.
WORK AMONG SHOP MEN
Campaigns Open Up September -
Committeeman in 20 Different
States interested

A. NJ. Bruner. last year community
extension expert with the Men and Re-
ligion Forward movement and for
merly evangelist with the Industrial
Evangelistic foundation, has reorgan-
lied the latter work and has enlarged
the committee from seven members
in Illinois to a national extension CON-
mittee, with q members representing
rs cities and % states. The new work
will be inaugurated Sept. with a cam.
paign at Williamsport, Pa, and con-
tinue until June l. Campaigns have
already been scheduled up until Dec.
. and requests for dates are pouring
in constantly.
INDUSTRIAL WORK.
| Less than 20 per cent of the indus
/ trial class is at present reached by ex-
| listing church agencies. and il Ia Mr..
| Burners plan TO feature this particu-
! lar phase. One week campaigns are
conducted in each city. where there
is committee of seven, composed Of
two Y. NJ. c. A. men, two ministers
and three business men. In each shop
! where campaign is to he conducted.
three men from that particular estab-
/ lishment together with one leader are
named as committee to cooperate
with the evangelist Shop meetings
are held each noon and in the evening
| these committeeman meet with the
evangelist TO receive instructions,
which will enable them to carry on
and perpetuate the work Once a
month the committee OF seven meets
with the shop committeeman SO that
the work is carried on even after the
campaigns have been brought to
conclusion.
FORMER Y. VI. q. A. MAN.
Farmer boy. storekeeper, travelling
salesman, local Y. NJ. c. A secretary,
travelling secretary and organizer for
the Y. NJ. c. A, evangelist to the men
of the industrial world. Such in brief
is the life history of A NJ. Bruner. ex-
ecutive secretary OF the Industrial
Evangelistic association, and one of
the community extension experts of
the Men and Religion Forward move
ment OF 1911-1912.
ENTERS NEW WORK.
Mr.. Bruner entered association work
becoming assistant secretary at Min
neapolis in 1885. Two years later he
was called to become one OF the de-
partment state secretaries of Illinois
, and was placed in charge OF the rail-
road and city department. a position
: which he held for % years. In 1909
~. Ill
from America TO the worlds confer
er.ce OF Young Mems CHRISTIAN associa-
tions in Barman Elberfeld, Germany.
On his return. he entered a new field
of labor, which was the natural out
i growth Of his years OF experience
among men. He began evangelistic
: work under the auspices of the asso-
citation and since then has been doing
most effective work in shops and
factories as an industrial evangelist.
. EXTENSION EXPERT.
Mr.. Bruner was one OF the most en-
q thusiastic promoters OF the Sixth
Message" of the forward movement,
known as Community Extension"
which he defines as the entering
wedge Of the gospel to the unreached,
= unchurched masses, an inter-church
enterprise, including industrial COM
+ munities and rural districts, where the
country church is gradually disappear
ing from the map. His shop talks have
- been heard by railroad, shop and fac.
tory men throughout the country. His
work is OF the plain, fearless. direct
SORT, which appeals TO men because
, they understand II. The results from
: his efforts have been clear and def.
rite and he has won place for him.
self as special evangelist to more
than 10000, 900 men In the class that
has been appointed for his field.
The plan of organization of the new
work leaves working system in each
industrial community, thereby assur
ing permanency, the campaigns usual
: ~ being conducted in connection with
the Y NJ G. A. A. n Sperry of this
= city is among those whose names ap
u pear as members OF the committee.