The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-08-19
American Christians Fol-
lowing the Example of
Those of Great Britain in
Special Activity
TO STEM TIDE OF
NON-CHURCH GOING
British Use Tracts; Americans Go
in for Display Newspaper Ads.
For Nationwide Publicity.
(By THE RELIGIOUS GAMBLER,

tpy LIE htLiT1OlS GAMBLEE.)
stirred by the marked decline in
church attendance. as recorded by a
census. the British churches are TN
d~ertaking a campaign for church.
going. Their principal instrument for
efccting a reform is the use Of tracts.
which will be circulated by the mil
lions. The religious press Of Great
Britain is discussing the matter IN
leading articles. and church meetings
are debating it.
In America there is really under
way a similar campaign, already as
saming national proportions, which
promises to sweep the country before
the winter is over. On this side Of
the Atlantic the means chosen to stem
the tide away from the church is
ENTHUSIASTICALLY different from the
British Ircthod-namely
publicity. A dozen cities have already
begun the publication of paid display
advertisements Of the churches, With
Results that are tangible.
What the Figures Show
once a decade, ince 1881, a church
census has been taken in the city of
Liverpool. Until within a decade the
results have gratified religious lead
era. sinc they showed a steady in
crease in church attendance. Blu this
latest census has revealed a decrease
OF more than eighteen Thousand per-
sons present in the Liverpool churches
on a given Sunday. On the face of the
returns, which, however, have been
challenged by some authorities as he
inS excessive. the non-confOrrnl5t
Ch.rChes has suffered 4 .lecline Of
more than fourteen thousand in at
t., dance. Nobody questions that there
has been a net decrease.
In contrast with the Protestant
showing n Roman Catholic churches
have an increase of about three thou
sand to report for the decade. The
los al archbishop attributes this show
Ing to two papal decreec, one reu,tir-
Ing more frequent ~partaking IT she
Communion on the paE- OF church
mefnbers, and the Other lowering tho
AZ a: which children may he admit
ted TO communion. Were It not fCl
these opportune DEGREES, the Roman
Catnciic churches would nave sncW"o
the ~unfavorable showing OF the Pro
testants. So the subject is n OF
common interest.
Advertising for WOrshipPets.
The old way was tn eaY re ques
ton of churCh-attendance to the habI
or conscience Of the individual. Whi1'
many congregations puI in specia
stS IAS'iObos
other devices TO attract the people Z
church. these were purely local ef
forts. No broad, general and compre
hensive schere for confronting TN
entire public with the common ciar!o1
81 all the churches was devised. an
til the Men and Religion Congress,
year ago.
Tina gathering boldly prOposed :
after a scientific surrey of the H:tua
ton display newspaper alvert'sln
as ~" best way OF reaching me an
churched. The argument ran that tn
Oh,y medium read by everybody
tho Aaily newspaper: pail advertise
r,cnts would be a prima facie 'iI3enr
Of the church's sincerity II s0Iicl
.ude: display advertise nenr3 wOlIi Z
ihs = apable, laundering h c.aalienc
ard he invitation OF the ch"rcn int
tytody's eyes. Besides their Htfe;
appeal, these big advertiserlent Wt'9i
create general Omnlcnt n u
ckuich's cause is halt Woa Wn'n -
SEX people to talking.
incidentally. it was argued. Senei.
a. y,tising would react upon tr
C1urcnes themselves, stimulating inc
To show greater hospitality I" u
stronger. and to bring he wares u
T.. the specifications Of the a1Fcr-.
tee
III iladelphia IeAIe the Wa!
-, write q plan in IL boot; IS III
tang: to put il into operation is on
arn,het. The first city 10 'ake Nc
VI he subject practically was rn'I
d.lphia. whe" the Men AID lteFS."'
e-i.r RS. with Mr.. BOnsaU 1T the
her,!. epa II a series ~ display al
nua presented them se the charcnf
TIE idea was so radically new tn
t'.c churches were slow n taking
~ AID before il was Ru- INTO actts
~ y alton in philadelphia. TIE iiea v
A-a ~ =. 1ftn,nro nhmOtI
the Philadelphia committee havh
addressed a meeting in that city. al
having shown proofs of the advertls
mcnts Which subsequently, apPeAred