The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-30
ALL CHURCHES
AND THE PRESS
Plan of Men and Religion For
ward Movement to Have a
Full Cooperation of Forces
Bv the Religious Rambler.

No more radical actioh '"uid
taken by the Men and ~f'ehsiouo
Christian Conservative Congress- no"
in session in Carnegie Hall, Ne" iofh'
than that which is recommended III
tho renort of the commission upon
nub,icitv. the creation Of a national
press bureau. representing ana ihdlh-
tanned by all the churches. for pur-
poses of cooperation with the press
leaders, of the Men and Religion
Movement say that his will be IN OPP
Grafton before the year is out. h
congress recommends that the bureau
be opened under the direction OF the
Federal Council of the Churches OF
CHRIST in America. which is the or
sanizahtion officially standing tor all
the Protestant churches in North
America. If the Federal Councl IS
not free to do it, the n~ternat1oha
Young Mems Christian Association, or
the Interchurch Brotherhood Council,
is indicated as the proper agency.
| The purpose Of the bureau is stated
to be in no sense propaganda, for il
| will represent all shades Of belief and
polity, but to be a recognition OF the
church's obligation officially to CO.
operate in all practical ways with the
which are the n agency
reaching all the people all the time.
A Clearing House for Big News.
The suggestion is that a day and
night office be opened in New York,
where the newspapers may get infor-
nation upon any obscure point or re-
ligious news, whether it be the name
and affiliations Of a missionary arrest
ed in Korea, or the standing OF a
minister in trouble in Missouri. This
uE,1iI hln tho roc 10 Hicfin OyyiSh
between the self-constituted and I'M
authorized representatives of religion.
and those who are connected with the
recognized bodies.
The statistics of religious growth
would be regularly supplied to the
newspapers, photographs OF leaders
IN this country and abroad would be
kept on file; all new Developments in
religious activity in the way Of O.
mentS and conventions would be re-
ported SO that no newspaper need
ever be left upon big religious news.
The men who have been studying
the question say frankly that another
reason why the churches, in their
official and representative capacity
should put themselves into a position
TO serve the newspapers is that they
could thus deliver the editors from
the special p!eaders and adroit press
agents who exploit particular organi-
= NAoAo VI Az AlIIOS, dl 1tc SAp01lSe Vi
the whole Christian body. They cite
] the case OF one group OF Protes1an,s
1 centered in Greater New York. am
e haldlng special views concerning The
. state Of the soul after death, who
S Whlle they have no standing amone
g the organized churches of America
yet get more material into the dali,
newspapers than all the great demon.
S nations put together.
n New Notion in Religion.
8 The general idea which this uniou,
puDliclly session Of the Men and Re
u ilglon Congress represents has seemed
to sweep over the whole country TIL.
leader OF the Men and Religion Move
g fnent, Fred b. Smith, in proyidirs 10
o mis- discussion Of the subject Of In,
IS press ana the churches on the pro
e gram OF the most representative re
nS1ous meeting held for many wears
mas mercy discerned the trend Of tn
it general sentiment to crystaIiza
II Various individuals AND snac;.
g agencies have for many years bee
II Using d closer cooperation of tn
enurcnes and the as on
y " me most important and needed dc
I 1sopinefls IN the life OF Americ
e Alert clergymen and layTnen as va
A. - most EDITORS, have been eager r
Us 81 ,hese two great forces yorkin
81 toSo.heI IN harness for the nuhl;
IS service. Now the Men and RnlieinI
ne nthunsress mas undertaken to lay OF
tiga ilnes OF the science Of r.
ilgion and publicity, if it NAV e. )
talieo, marking the limits practical
!" po'h the press and the church,
,
from this Congress in New York
~ oa-wloe movement for co-oDer;
oTar ~ me newspapers will swee
a oNer the churches. The rnistnde
s.ahclngs that exist on the nart
~ ,boaatn' as SHOWN clearly by the reno
= 10 Was lscusse yesterday (Saf1
80 ihoTnlng tthe 2Oth) sho,,
ou ~ olsslpated by the congras
no - oA as It is report,
Ter undertaking. 10 49,. i-aS1nen a
re. editors of their nauius with Z
9TH help them IN raa,apSis' ana
l. J f1-f. Nd4l uIStnfaroct