Greene County herald., 1912-12-20
CHURCH ADVERTISING
RAPIDLY SPREADING


first tried In the daily press to ad-
vertise churches, and religion in gen.
eral, have found not only that their
efforts have been well rewarded by
increased attendance at the churches
in behalf of which the advertising
4 campaigns were conducted, but there
has been more and more approval OF
their conduct by the religious press
as well as by the daily press, says
the Continent, the national Presbyte-
rian weekly.
The papers of Philadelphia, among
those In other parts OF the country,
during the last year or SO, have
shown a marked increase OF interest
In church affairs and a growing eager
ness to print church news. The ad-
vertisements of churches are also
solicited by the business Offices of
daily papers.
The St. Louis Star In recent dou-
BILE column editorial suggests that
the requests which churches have
made in the past for publicity in con-
nection with campaigns to raise
money for new buildings might be
extended so that churches would ad
vertise to bring in souls as we'll as
dollars. Says this editorial in refer
ring to intimations from churches
that they would like space: Such re-
| quests are not made often enough to
please the newspaper. All editors
would be willing to do still more for
the churches" The further construc-
| tive suggestion is made that II
| churches are comfortable, with har
monious decorations so that the mind
is not frozen while the attempt is
being made to warm the spirit, and
| IL such churches are advertised, thea
| ters and social clubs will at least
have real competitor.
The Continent was one Of the first
publications to advocate publicity
and advertising by churches, and dur
ing the last year and a half has
printed number of articles telling
Of the progress of church advertising
and has suggested new plans At the
time the report of the publicity COM
mission OF the men and religion for
ward movement was issued, William
T. Ellis, editor afield Of the CONT
nent, had comprehensive review of
the religious advertising situation up
to that time. Mr.. Ellis told how
Illuminated signs had been used
along Broadway to attract the inter
est of the citizens of New York to
the church of their preference during
the activities of the forward move
ment last spring In fact, no other
religious paper has gone into the sub
ject of church advertising as has the
Continent, and its suggestions Of pos
sible advertisements and the advan-
tages of using them have stimulated
more than one church to utilize this
means of bringing people in to hear
the gospel.
In a summary of the religious ad-
vertising of churches the Universal |
ist says that Rev. W. D. Buchanan.
pastor of the Universalist church at
Tacoma, has used full page advertise
ments in the Sunday papers and as a
result his church has been crowded.
Rev. Aquilla Webb of Warren Me-
mortal church, Louisville, KY, has
been quoted as saying that he solved
the difficulty of filling his church
Sunday evenings by advertising In
the daily press.
The display advertisements of
churches in the Public Ledger news
paper of Philadelphia are commented |
upon and approved by the Lutheran.
West End church of New York city |
has used posters in a subway station |
near the church. These have an |
nounced the subjects of coming SER
mons and have had an influence In |
attracting additional members of the |
congregation.
Some weeks ago the Continent pub |
lished an item concerning the half I
page advertisement of First church |
of Williamsport, Pa. This notice by |
the Continent not only obtained a |
news story in the Sun of Williams |
port, but in the editorial columns the |
editor approves of the enterprise of
the Rev. Mr.. Hogg, who was responsi-
BILE for the advertisement, and sug-
gests that there is growing appre- |
citation of the value of church advsr- |
tising.
Ministers in many parts of the |
country who have tried definite dis
play announcements of regular and |
special church services have found |
that they have increased their at
tendance, and as a natural concom- |
liant the financial support has also |
increased. This has brought about |
general enthusiasm for church work |
and has had a reflex effect upon the |
pastors, as well as people, which has
been decidedly beneficial