Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-23
Valuable Assistance to Ministers
of Atlanta Seen in Newspaper
Editorial Urging a Movement
to Set An Attendance Record.
Clergymen Gladly Pledge Their
Aid in Effort to Make Project
Success and a Lasting Benefit
to Community's Religious Life.

Ministers of Atlanta put their ap-
prevail Saturday on the editorial In
The Georgian which contained the
suggestion that Sunday be set apart
in the churches Of Atlanta as a Co
o-Church-Day. All who were ap-
preached for an opinion hailed the
movement as one of invaluable as
sistance to the ministry of the citv
and one which would fix Atlanta more
firmly in her reputation as a church
going city.
The editorial proposed that the
ministers in all of the denomina-
lions confer and name a Sunday in
the near future-preferably early in
Decentralization every church should
strive for a record attendance.
The plan eliminated all idea of
rivalry or of a comparison of congre-
cations, but contemplated that the
banner attendance for Atlanta should
come as the result of a universal In
vitation from all the pulpits to all the
people.
To this proposal the pastors have
assented enthusiastically and have
promised their individual and united
operation, A number of them ex-
pressed to The Sunday American
their qualification that newspaper
of the city had inaugurated a move
ment which, If launched by the MIN
listers themselves might have accom-.
plished only a part Of what win be
the outcome of The Georgian,s suD-
gestion-
Many were for making the Go-<o-
Church Day permanent institution in
Atlanta and for making 1t more often
than once a year IL the appeal met
with the success expected on the first
trial. Here are expressions from
some of the ministers who were seen
Saturday night:
RABBI DAVID MARX, Of the Je~-
ish TempIe.--It appears to mo that
much good should come from a Co
to- Church Day. 1 can not see where
any harm could come to any church
or denomination.
The effects of getting people out TO
church In large numbers certainly can
not be other than beneficial. It is
debatable, of course, as to how long
the effects of one day in the year win
endure, but 1t can not be disputed
that many persons VINO would not
oil y0n he txfn 4al nd
be attached to the work of the
churches and may become regular at
tendants.
The Go-to- Church Day is a step in
the right direction. When its fire.
quency is increased 1t will have my
still heartier approval. / wish the
churches could have it every week or
every month.
THE REV. RUSSELL X. SMITH,
Rector Church of the Epiphany.-I
am heartily in favor of the Go-to-
Church Day. Any legitimate means
TO get people into the church has my
warmest commentator. Persons un-
accustomed to attend religious serv-
ices would be drawn to the church
for the first time, perhaps, in months
or years. Their interest in sacred
and religious things, dormant posi-
bly, since their early youth, would be
reawakened
l understand the movement is to be
undertaken without any thought of
rivalry on the part of the churches,
but that a general invitation is to be
issued to the public. This is a most
excellent idea. No church can suffer
by comparison. but each will be
benefited by the great increase in its
attendance, a benefit which l believe
will be felt for long time.
DR.. LINCOLN MCCONNELL, PAS
TOR OF THE BAPTIST TABEH-
NAcLE--The Tabernacle congresa-
ton may be depended upon to do It's
part in making the Go-to-Church
Day record breaking Sunday. IT
is a mighty good idea and I am glad
that some one conceived the Ssan OF
getting out the greater share OF the