The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-02-07
ELY WINNER
OF CONTEST
Gives Best Answer to Cues
ton Why People Don't
Go To Church

The "Why People Don't Go To
Church" contest inaugurated by l.
E. Mitchell, of the Christian church
and judged by r. L. Banta resulted
in the first prize being awarded Ev-
erett Ely, second to Horace Wray and
third to Mrs. Frank R. White.
In speaking of the contest the Rev.
Mitchell says:
"There was such hearty response
to that first contest and the results
SO gratifying because the weak points
of our churches were SO startlingly
revealed that l am going to offer
two more prize contests. / want all
the churches of Kennewick to profit
by the disclosures and suggestions
obtained in this way, and / expect to
see to it that my church uses every
suggestion to make her work count
and her influence felt. The next prize
to. be given is for the best practicable
suggestion for can Ideal Program
For A Kennewick Church. All en-
tries must be in, in two weeks from
publication of this notice, or 6:45
o'clock, February 20.
Rules: Mot over $50 words. p
Must be within the reach of Ken
newick church. 3-Must be adequate
to challenge the People Who Don't Go
To Church. Must suggest both the
what and the how-what an ideal pro-
gram is and how to obtain it.
"Three elders of this church will
sit as supreme court to judge the
plans.
Especial consideration will be Civ
en- for entries by high school pupils
if marked "High School,.
"Only one prize of $500 will be
given for the best PLAN"
The three prize answers follow:
Abe Martin says, "a fellow is gem
orally interested in the thing he's got
an interest i'm. ~
The church is distinctive in its mis-
sion, and fails to interest people when
its endeavor carry it into competition
with amusement entertainment or
intellectual culture. It's course lies
tangent to these activities.
Non-church goers are such for lack
of interest, which arises because the
church has in many cases forsaken its
high office of the ministr yof Christ
and His gospel, and is offering the
public cheap substitute of worthless
stock, which appeals neither as in
telectual nor as a diversion nor salts
flies the hungry soul.-Everett Ely,
It looks to me like there are too
many other attractions nowadays
for people to go to church. In days
gone by when church attendance was
better there was no other place much
to go. It has always been my personal
opinion that religion and church at
tendance are not very closely related.
A new preacher comes to town and
puts on sort Of side show by pulling
off his coat, collar and tie, etc., and
people out Of curiosity and pastime
drop in. The Holy Roller class create
interest for a while. BY advertising
on the order of fair or circus re-
yival can be put over like the Bull
gin Revival. But the fact remains
that when each of the various attrac-
tions are over they are pretty much
over in fact and in deed. -
If there is anything in the Chris
tian religion it must be reflected il
the everyday life of church mem
bers. This manifestation is too limited
to justify the modern hard headed
thinker to fall into the ranks of
church going. There is no fear in the
average American over the spiritual
consequences of going his own mat
ter-of-fact way of easiest resistance.
He feels that his Greater put him on
the earth rs master of the earth and
all the things that are on it. Man was
made for liberty and liberty was
made for man. Healthy living con-
sists of recreation and pleasure as
well as work and hard knocks. There
is $50 much hard work and hard
KNOCKS in the lives of most people
that they seek forgetfulness when
ever possible. So it is by reason of
fearlessness, independence and reck-
lessness that SO many people prefer
amusement to church, 1t is the char
acter of the people. The people are
changing faster than churches can
change or can ever change.
So when you ask the question,
"What is the matter with the
church," l answer it in this way:
"What is the matter with the people ?"
Well, school is out and all the kids
are out to play.-Horace Wray.
"Why don't People Go To Church 2"
Fear of ridicule of the going, too busy
offor a Lotto brookfacf. inst DOME foo1