Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-26
Church PLANS TO
AID THE LONESOME
Social Service Campaign Is In
augurated at Old ST.
PauI's.

With the object of increasing the
membership Of Old ST Paurs Meth
odist Episcopal Church, 9S1 Broad
{ street, to more than 1000, Rev George
P. Dougherty, pastor, has launched
a campaign of social service designed
principally to reach the young men
and women in the boarding house
districts near the church.
The first move was made yesterday
when the pastor posted on the church
bulletin board this announcement:
Are you lonesome? A social hour.
free to you, at which friendship and
refreshments are served at the end
of the evening service"
Members of the more or less staid
congregation read the announcement
with wonder, but fell in with the plan
of the progressive pastor by attend
ing the evening service and bringing
their friends with them. Mr.. Dough-
erty expressed himself as much
pleased with the result Of the first
service in his campaign, particularly
because of the generous response of
those he Is most DESTROYS of having
within the fold of the church-the
young men and young women.
A large electric sign IS to be placed
outside the church and an extensive
advertising campaign will be inau-
gurated. Everyone will be welcome
to the services in the church. and
especially strangers.
The church was crowded to the
doors at the services last evening.
and after Mr.. Dougherty had deliv-
cred an interesting lecture on Tho
Cotter's Saturday Night" and there
had been special music, he invited all
to remain for the social hour, at
which he said friendship and refresh
ment would be served. He directed
them to go to the social rooms In the
rear of the main auditorium. Prac-
tically all of those in the congrega-
ton followed him as he led the way.
When they reached the social rooms
they found many of the young women
of the church gathered there and the
serving of coffee, cake and sand
witches was at once begun. Mr..
Dougherty, with the assistance Of
prominent members of the church.
both men and women, proceeded to
boarding houses.
The social nour lasted from to
1920 p. m. and was a great success.
It seemed to be the general opinion
that Mr.. Dougherty's social hours had
filled a longfelt want in this city.
Many young men and women
grasped him by the hand and told
him that they felt at home for the
first time since they had come to the
city from their own homes. The
majority promised to come again,
and quite a number declared that
they would do all they could to have
their friends attend the social hours
in the future
During tne/ Sunday evenings in
February Mr.. Dougherty will deliver
human interest sermons on vital
questions of the day, as follows:
February 1, christianity and
! Wealth." February 8, Christianity
and Politics." February Is, Chris
s tianity and Amusement" February
~, Christianity and Socialism"
Mrs. Florence milford Hunt will sing
TAT these services.
The social service compaign is only
one of many plans Mr.. Dougherty
has adopted for the benefit of the
church. When he assumed the pas
torate two and half years ago he
found only little handful of people
mot more than 100--in his congrega-
ton. Since the injection of the new
pastors energy and progressive ideas
into the affairs of the parish the
membership has increased to more
than $50.