Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-26
PASTORS BEGIN Campaign
FOR RECORD ATTENDANCE
ON C0-TO-CHURCHD DAY

rrs.u assurances Of the active CO.
,oaration of the ministry of Atlanta
IN the Go-to- Church Day set tenta-
,t,sIy for December IA. were given
Tbe Georgian Wednesday.
Practically every minister in the
.,, and suburbs now has pledged his
aersonal assistance in bringing out
,a largest church attendance that
Atlanta eyer has had in her entire
afsto,y. All of the ministers are en-
,rsiastic over the project, and are
entering heart and soul into the
work
EXPRESSIONS from many of them
.rs ia the effect that it is exactly
The movement for which the churches
Of Atlanta have been waiting without
Knowing lust what was needed TO
simulate the attendance. t,..
The plan, in brief, proposes that
every church in the city and envi-
rons seek to bring out its entire
membership on the date set so that
Atlanta may set record for attend
ance that will surpass any other city
In the country of the size, and so that
interest in church work may be slim
ulated beyond any point it hitherto
mas reached.
Each Church to Get Out Members.
There is to be no PROSECUTING and
no petty rivalry. Each church is to
invite its own and not to work to get
attendance from other churches. The
thought is not to establish the in
dlvidual supremacy of any church in
respect TO membership or attend
ance, but to make { striking showing
Of the strength ot the church and Of
religion in the city at large.
What the movement will accom-
plish in the way of lasting results
was illustrated forcibly by the Rev.
" r. HedriX. pastor of the Wesley
Memorial Church, one of the fore
most institutional churches of the
CITY,
louisville made a campaign while
was a pastor there very similar
10 the one proposed by The Geor-
gisn." said the Rev. Mr.. Derix. 1T
was four weeks endeavor among
the pastors and congregations. The
climax came on the fourth week
when the churches had the largest
combined attendance in the history
Of the city
That campaign was the most eff
fectiNe and permanent thing accom-
plishcd during the time | was there.
It was notable fact that In the
YEAR after the Go-to- Church crusade
interest in church work was at its
highest point and the church at
tendance throughout the city was
nearly doubled throughout the
twelve months.
This settled in my mind the ques-
ton of the permanency of the re-
suits | heartily concur in the plan
Of The Georgian. and will say for
our folks that we all will join in
mo movement. The date. December
u seems to be about right
Methodists Welcome Date.
III will be especially timely for the
llethodists, as we are just beginning
q new ecclesiastical year, and in the
churches where there Is new
preacher the outpouring Of members
will give him good start and afford
him encouragement for the work of
the year
The Methodisrs meet next Mon
day in Wesley Memorial Church. and
The Georgian's plan will be brought
up then for Endorsement of the min
steers of the denomination
The Rev. A. r. Holderby. pastor
of the Moore Memorial Presbyterian
hureh, said in regard TO "Go-to-
Church Day"
! wish to give my hearty ndorse-
Went to the proposition, believing that
such an effort will be a tremendous
INSPIRATION and great help to the
entire city. If we can succeed in get
ing 100000 people to attend the
churches on that day it will be the
urSt Tune that such a feat was ever
accomplished in Atlanta.
AS matter of fact, there are not
>uthclent church buildings in the city
o accommodate even 100000 people.
u l0e calculation is correct there are
only about 200 church buildings in
40 city proper, and the seating ca
Pd'Il\ is not more than 400 on an
7Nerage. 1t is further calculated that
oere are in the city only about $1,000
"ufcn members, and if that be true
men the church membership could
uo' ne accommodated at any one ser
wee But, however that may be, it
> true that Atlanta needs a tremen-