The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-16
REV. JOHN K. TURNER TELLS OF WORK AT EAST LAKE CHURCH
By cNnoLYN p .rLLrorT

belonged to everybody generally and no- body in particular
 It seems it would be much more satis- factory and comfortable, much more 'homeN$ to have one's very own conGrc- gation, ones very own membership, uncs very own big church family, instead Of being the occasional visitor who must needs divide his affections between whole district full of other pastors church families.
 When such radical thought was inti- mated to Rev. John R. Turner, who knows, because he has just been a pre- siding elder, and because he is just now, after number of years, pastor again, he smiled the ilGulgent smile Of pastor, while he replied with a presiding elders discretion ..
 4'Well--its l different field. There's a certain satisfaction, of course, in the closer relationship q pastor sustains to. his own people. But our home in Talla- dega was such a pleasant one, and we were bound to the people by so many ties of sympathy and interest that didn't feel like presiding elder who os- longed to nobody.
 T am looking forward with enjoyment to the pastorate at East Lake. l believe one who has been in the presiding elder ship of the conference brings apprecia- ton to every phase of pastoral work.
 Though still young man, Dr. Turner is bringing to his new appointment at East Lake Methodist church the ripe cx- . perience and the maturity of judgment that come through years of service, both in pastoral charges and in the cabinet of the conference.
 An evidence of his progressive spirit is the movement initiated immediately after he began his work to enlarge the church by adding Sunday school apparatus on an adjacent lot
 "A committee has already been ap- pointed to look into the advisabiilty of removing an old building there," said the pastor, land the people are enthusiastic in their desire to provide adequate &C., commodation for the big Sunday school , cf 6S5 pupils which the superintendent. w. D. Bishop, is leading on to larger development
 ! "Our brotherhood class is ready in separate building. and some of the other departments that are so crowded every Sunday will be afforded the necessary room and equipment in the annex we ex- r5ect to build on the lot of 200 feet owned by the church.
 WELL ORGANIZED
 '.I found the various departments of our church well organized" announced Dr. Turner. ''We have the largest Ep- worth league in the conference, repre- { group of young people. and don't be- Ijeve the spirit of our missionary so- csety. under the leadership of Mrs. Alice Johnson, Is excelied"
 :. c E McLendon is chairman, and E. G. Burchffel secretary of the efficient board of stewards, who are extending their fun cooperation with the pastor in his plans for the new year.
 EDUCATION MOVEMENT
 ..our people are falling in line with the education movement of the church" stated Dr. Turner. During January we are putting special emphasis on the csIl- tivation of the prayer life; during Feb ruary life service will be stressed. and March win be given over largely to consideration of stewardship. 'T am hoping to make these three months a revival campaign for our mem bership through the development that is bound to come to . church in awaken ing to largo interests,~ added the pastor. Making ready enthusiastically for any great movement means developm1nt-
 This was proven by the centenary. The raising of funds was an incidental mat, ter. My observation as presiding elder was that the churches which lined up fully with this movement came to new day.
 t'I look upon the educational movement of the Southern Methodist church as a
 
 centenary. and, of course was planned by the general conference at the same time, though both movements were not to be undertaken simultaneously. The Methodist church was pioneer in these movements, the first of which was a missionary enterprise. Now that the second part of the programme is to be put on. I have no doubt but that results will be equally gratifying"
 INVITATION
 As . part of the revival programme in beginning the three-month special prep aration, the East Lake Methodist church is carrying out a membership campaign to cover homes within it's territory to increase church attendance and to add to the S10 names already enrolled on it's church register.
 \ unique method of issuing special invitation was that of slast Saturday when a number of Boy Scouts. tied the pastors message to the door knobs of East Lake homes. The first greeting that met many who reside in that vi- cnity upon opening the door Sunday morning was the invitation with Dr, Turner's name signed to it which ran as follows:
 why not go to church7
 Few persons think things through.
 'If everybody reasoned this matter of church-going to it's logical conclusion, there would not be many vacant pews and . widespread demand for more churches would speedily arise.
 The reason is simple: People do not stay away from church because they are opposed to religion or to the church. Far from it. Nearly everybody believes that the Christian church is absolutely necessary to our civilization. If its ex- istence were threatened thei great mass of the people would fight for it.
 %"But by some curious kinlS in their mental processes many nonchurch goers fail to perceive that if everybody else followed their example-and every honest person grants others the right to do as he does-the churches would quickly pass out of existence.
 Every nonattendant upon religious services virtually votes for the elimina- ton of the ipstitution from society
 eff person believes that the world needs the church. he has but one clear, s.snmistakable and unanswerable way of stating his position. That is by regu- lar church attendance. The man who goes to church stands for an indispensa- l,le institution, even as good citizen stands for the state by voting.
 ''Absenteeism from the ballot box and apsenteeism from church are kindred tailures in duty to society
 .'Of course. that is not the best reason for church attendance. We go to church primarily to express our belief in God and to do Him reverence. The loftiest truth about man is that he is made in the image of the Divine and has ca pacity for fellowship with the Infinite
 "Worship is the highest function of which human nature is capable r< Jrt,r r1aylx