Milford chronicle., 1924-08-01
CHURCH SUCCESS DEPENDS ON
PUBLICITY

Every church should have a funG
for purchasing space in the neWspa-
pers and should advertise in the
daily or weekly papers regularly,
persistantly and consistently" the
Rev. ]. T. Brabner Smith, Chicago,
/ World Service Commission of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, told
the preachers at the summer school
of the Garrett Biblical Institute,
Evanston, Illinois.
He said, Many churches have edi-
tors, writer's and advertising experts
who could be used in preparing news
or advertising for the newspapers.
There is a wealth of unused talent
in the Christian churches consisting
of publishers, editors, newspaper
writer's and advertising experts. Why
does not the church use it's wonder
full literary and business talent of
men, who are engaged in newspaper
and journalistic work, in the inter-
est of individual churches, especial
ly of the church of which these
newspaper men are members. In
some communities where there are
no church members who are owners
of or workers on newspapers, there
are men who are experts on the
newspapers, who could be interested
in the church work by being asked
to write up the news and advertise
ments of the church or churches in
the town in which they live.
1T pays to advertise as hundreds
of preachers and churches have
demonstrated by increased attend
ance and larger collections, as well
as larger publicity. Churches should
not sponge on the newspaper The
space in the newspapers must be
sold to pay the running expenses of |
the paper and the churches should |
their ware as earnestly |
and as Systematically like the bus
mess man.
THE church needs the newspapers
as a medium of spreading the King
dom of God, because it enters into
almost every home and is a visitor
in almost every family circle. 1t is
not only in our homes, but it follows
us on our jOrneys. 1t is everywhere!
1t reaches almost every man, woman
and child who can read and is our
close and constant companion. 1t
those who favor the church
md to those who do not. Through it
we can send the Christian message,
he Gospel, the good news to alb
sent members of the church and to
hose members of the church who
ire Indifferent to church activities"
Among the questions asked by the :
preachers were: "Is it true that the
zig press associations are controlled
~ any church organization or by
my big business"
The answer was: "I have had :
lose cooperation with the AssO
lated Press and other press asso- I
iatiOns and l do not think they are :
Ontrolled by any particular church y
r business. They are fair, unbiased, '
IMPARTIAL and are seeking news"
Several preachers wanted to know
Thy the headlines so often misrep-
esented the news story, while some j
said that most trouble
18th the papers was caused by the
laring, misleading headlines.
Mr.. Smith said Every paper or
ress association I know are striv- -,
Ig and spending vast sums of money y
, get the truth. The newspapers e
otto is truth. Go and see your edi- p
II or write him a kind, courteous
1te giving the facts. No editor or p
.per will knowingly or willing
int church news that is false.
Editors and reporters are human "
,ings, treat them as such. Too
any preachers and church leaders il
eat the newspaper fraternity like -
lost estate not like Fourth Es-
te.'" Io