Milford chronicle., 1912-02-09
MINISTER'S ON ADVERTISING
conesnsus Of Opinion Is That Pub
leity is Beneficial 70 Churches
Would Bring Converts.

Newspaper advertising was discuss
ed by the National Ministerial associa.
tion OF Syracuse. n. Y, at a meeting
the other day, after papers on the sub.
iect had been read by the Rev Al.
bert C. Fultsn, pastor Of the First
Presbyterian church. and Jerome d.
l}arnum. In the discussion which fol-
lowed there was a wide range OF opin-
ion on the subject.
Rev. Dr. Frederick w. Belts, pastor
of the First Universalist church. main
tanned that the newspapers are ex
ceedingly kind to the churches In
printing news of Importance. and thai
he did not favor promiscuous
scheiae OF advertising.
Rev. DR. William J. Howard, a visit
or from Washington. D. c., said that
he regarded newspaper advertising as
helpful to the church, and Rev. ], p.
Knappenberger, pastor OF the Wesley
an Methodist church, approved it,
Mr.. Knappenberger said he was will
ing to leave the whole subject to ad-
yertising to the individual ministers.
providing they can muster funds to
pay for It, He said that he did not re.
gard advertising as sensational, be
cause to him there is nothing more
startling and marvellous in all the
world than the themes upon which the
ministers preach every Sunday.
Mr.. Fulton in his paper advocated
the making Of goods as good as the
adVarF{aarnopf To eoF5 4ho& - 10 tguoa
to emphasize every good point that
can be made In connection with the
church. He said that he was willing
to try paid advertising in the news
papers II It will all the churches.
MIR. Fulton advocated a press agent
for the church. He believed a body
like the Presbyterian church should
have a representative to furnish news
matter He believes that more pub
licity will help to break down the
prejudices and keep the good work Of
the church before the public.
III the public can be brought into
more sympathetic relationship with
the church by the use OF honest, digni-
fed advertising, then / am heartily In
favor of advertising" he said
MIR. Barnum explained to the clergy
that advertising is the means Of NOV
ing mass 81 people In a given di-
rection. For that reason he felt Ger.
tain that 1t would be a good thing for
the church.
"Ths church today" he said. must
cone down fvom above and stand on
tho same footing, the Same foundation
as the business man. The church must
reach out and tell its story 10 those
thousands who won't answer its can.
why is it that the theateF attracts
so many thousands where the church
fails? Because it tells its story. IL in
terests the public, It aWakens curios-
ity and a desire TO see and listen. The
church today. my friends, from an ad-
vertising mans opinion, from the out
side, Is too cold. 1t must be made 10
hustle with human interest. Its music,
so sweet ana beautiful, must be sung
in advance just as the advance agent
Of the theater aWakens the spirit OF
the multitude for his wonderful troupe.
Il believe II the churches would de-
vote one-half the amount OF money to
that they give yearly to
the cause Of missions, they would
bring into their buildings twice the
number Of converts that the mission
aries enroll Use the newspapers to 1
tell your story and tell it we'll"