Salt Lake Tribune | 1913-11-30 | Page 49 | Why Churches Should Advertise

Why Churches Should Advertise By Rev. FRANK H. EBRIGHT, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Whitestone, L. L IF anyone haa common sense he ought to use It. This Is just as Important in the ministry as In business,' finance, politics or war. .People who are in a rut make no progress. Those who are stupidly following prejudices, sentiment or the exploded notions of their grandfathers grand-fathers are not progressive, If a clergyman finds his .audience is small It is his duty to find ways and moans to fill the empty pews. If a department store can fill Its afeles by announcements in the dally press, it doctors can spread tho teachings 6T cleanliness and hygieno through the columns of newspapers and if theatres can be filled by billboard bill-board announcements then we havo a set of facts which a minister of the gospel may well consider. If there Ib a lesson tor him tb 1 learn from this he Is stupid not to lenrn it. This Is an ago of the printing print-ing press nnd iho dissemination of knowledgo through typo and white paper. Is there any sound reason why a progrosslvo clergyman should not resort to these modern Instruments Instru-ments of publicity to fill the empty pows In his cnurch? If then, we are agreed .that the publicity of the prlutlng press is legitimate and effective why should , clergymen not make use of it? I can see .nothing but a purely sentimental senti-mental objection. The medical profession, pro-fession, bound by ancient tradition;, haa felt it "unethical" to advertise-but advertise-but this stupid superstition Is bolng broken down by the really Intelligent men of the profession. Tho day will come when all progressive clergymen w.ill feel as I do that every legitimate instrument mujst be usod to draw tho attention of mankind to the greatest and most profound business busi-ness of all tho 6avjng of men's souls. When I look chargo of tho Ep-worth Ep-worth Methodist Episcopal Church at Whitestone, Long Island, I found tho audiences ismaller than they should be. I reasoned that it was my duty to increase these congregations congrega-tions by attracting attention to the church. The 'first advertisement that 1 published increased the attendance at-tendance in my church one-third, and I feel that my convictions have been amply justified.