The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-04-08
Plan Is Being Tried in
Texas With Good
Results
MAKES PASTOR
THE LEADER
Converts Come Slowly
But Are Perma-
nent
~ THE RELIGIOUS RAmsLeR

~ THE RELIGIOUS RAMslER
Unreported in even the religious
NJ press, and unsupported by the pub
1ic. there is abroad in the land an
Intense discussion OF recent deyel
Opments In the field of professional
Evangelism, and the attendant evils
Especially of a financial sort. Sensa
ttonai developments may be expect
I'd at almost any time-develop
ments that will put All reyivalisfs
a from the most obscure 10 the mos
y conspicuous. upon a basis Of a fiSec
N xtsmpensation. determined in ad
a vance by the churches.
In the meantime. into field Of
Y heated discussion. anxious question
& 1ngs and fearful solicltude. the Meth
! 0cists OF Texas have precipitaied. on
= large scale. a method OF evange-
lism that holds promise OF large re
quits; and may be the way ont for
,the future. This is the simul'an
cous campaign in all the churches.
with pastorg-as preachers. and WITH
the win one" plan.
This is similar TO the simuitan-
eous preaching mission which the
Episcopal churches all over the land
have been using Local congrega.
tions In many places have adopted
\ ii. The First Presbyterian church
3 OF Houston. Tex Is taking in SOC
new members this year BY the win
one" idea
But Il has been left for the six
annual conferences OF the Methodist
church In Texas and New Mexico TO
adopt the scheme on large scale.
md 10 systemstize il effectively and
bring II 10 climax. April is is
ksDecision day with the Texas Meth
odists. and the following Sunday.
which is Easter. is set for the great
( 1ngathering.
Publicity. with is telling slogans.
jlays considerable part In this lat
h Get evangelstic movement. though
n lacks the personal flavor OF the
lv'rite-ups OF professional evange
4 1lsts. Thus "the goal OF the Texas
campaign has been widely adver
tiked as "One thousand revivals con
ducied by one thousand preachers
simultaneously In one thousand
churches and one thousand decision
Y day services on Sunday April IS.
and one thousand big classes re-
X ceived into the church on Easter.
Z April %. 1916
q Because the Methodist .eclesiasti.
cal machinery is we'll adapted 10
producing concerted activity within
specified time in behalf OF any
given cause, 1t has been possible TO
organize and drill the huge force or
Methodism in Texas for this evan
eelistic objective
One common complaint against
d evangelistic meetings is that they
idolize the evangelist. who il a bird
Of passage. and that church mem.
bers are led TO make invidious com
4 parsons between him and the local
pastor. Some evangelists make more
converts for themselves than they
DO for the church.
"A In order 10 link up the results OF
meetings with the
"A church. "a we'll as to put all the
work upon the whole church mem.
bership. this win one" plan has
4 been devised. Instead OF a short.
h swift campaign OF fervor. this meth.
Cd makes the pastor a leader in a
ell-organized and sustained and
y K Systematic effort 10 enlist the entire
working force OF a congregation in
4 the EFFORT 10 convert their own
q neiGhhors and relatives and to en-.
n roll them as members OF the local
church. Better a revival with 80
converts who become working mem
= bers OF the church, than one with
4 800 converts not a tenth OF whom
can be found six months after the
q meetings are over.
"Emciency" r. written large over
4 the Texas plan. II was organized
v last summer nj meeting in Dallas.
by the Rev. Glenn Flyn ~ Beau
4 mont. and was followed by prelimi.
nary meetings for organization in
& September and December and a
notable "inspiration meeting" at the
beginning OF March In Dallas. In
addition 60 the general committee, a
pnblicity committee. With W G.
Everett. OF Dallas. as chairman. was
named. and a finance and program
committee also. With o. r Sensa-
>ksueh AZ chaifman4 \ special de-.
p&ftment for the campaign was
ppened I'm the TexHs Christian Ad-
Noeate.
literary propaganda was insti-
<tu,ed among the churches IN prepa.
ration for the April climax \
~Workcr's library WAS complied.
Iot the usc Of preachers and laity.
thi- WIS chosen without regard TO
~ denomination of the authors.