Gospel Workers' Department
By Editor
Their divine calling, qualification, and preparation. Methods of labor, plans, etc. Conducted by A. G. DANIELLS Council of City Evangelists
A VERY helpful and encouraging council of our ministers who are working in the cities of the Eastern States was held in Washington, D. C., May 13-16. The following-named ministers were present:— Atlantic Union Conference: W. B. White, J. E. Jayne. Maine: J. F. Piper. Northern New England: A. J. Clark. Massachusetts: H. C. Hartwell, G. B. Starr, L. S. Wheeler, John Jones. Southern New England: C. H. Edwards, J. C. Stevens, W. R. Andrews. Greater New York: R. D. Quinn, A. V. Cotton, L. T. Nicola, B. E. Miller, N. P. Neilsen, J. K. Humphrey, E. Rosenwold, D. N. Wall, R. J. Bryant. Western New York: H. W. Carr, T. B. Westbrook. Columbia Union Conference: B. G. Wilkinson. Eastern Pennsylvania: W. H. Heckman, R. E. Harter, A. R. Bell, C. S. Wiest. Western Pennsylvania: B. F. Kneeland, W. F. Schwartz, J. P. Gaede, N. S. Ashton. Chesapeake: R. T. Baer, R. H. Martin, H. S. Prener. Ohio: E. K. Slade, J. F. Olmsted, W. M. Campbell. District of Columbia: J. L. McElhany, A. J. Breed, W. H. Green, M. D. Wood, G. A. Stevens. Virginia: W. J. Stone, S. Kime, J. H. Tindall, C. E. Garnsey. Lake Union: K. C. Russell, M. Serns. This council was held for the purpose of giving careful study to the question of how best to carry on our work in the large cities. In opening the council, the chairman made this brief statement:— "We are not here to study financial questions, nor administrative plans and policies. We are here to talk over our evangelical work—how to reach souls; how to get our message before the masses of the people in a way that will profoundly impress them with its character, bring conviction to their hearts, and lead them to obey God's truth. I know of no question more important for us as ministers to study than this, and I hope that this council will set on foot a new program in our evangelical work. The following are some of the topics that ought to receive very careful consideration by the ministers present:— "1. Advertising. What is proper, consistent advertising for securing an audience? "2. The Scriptures; their value and their use in preaching our gospel message. "3. Visiting; its great importance and efficiency in connection with public meetings. "4. Bible workers. How can they labor to the best advantage in connection with the public meetings? "5. Magazine sellers. How can they be associated with, and used in, the city effort? "6. Medical missionary work. How can it be combined most effectively with the evangelistic work? "7. The press. How can its columns be secured for reporting lectures and sermons? "8. Preaching. How can it be made most powerful and effectual in winning souls to Christ? "9. The workers. What should be their personal association and relationship in their united efforts? "We have not arranged for the reading of papers, nor the giving of set addresses on these subjects. During the past two years we have listened to many instructive and valuable papers and addresses along these lines. What we wish to do at this time is to have heart-to-heart talks in round-table study of these important questions, and to reach a unanimous decision concerning them." This subject was introduced by the chairman, as follows:— "Advertising is an important feature in carrying on evangelistic meetings. In some way, we must let the people know of our presence in their midst, of the subjects we propose to present in our public meetings, and of our desire to have them attend the services. It is hoped that we can here give this question careful study, and reach a unanimous agreement regarding the best way of advertising. "Our ministers adopt various methods of making their announcements. Some of these methods receive general approval, but some of them receive a great deal of criticism. It would seem that we ought to ascertain what it is in the methods of advertising that meets the general approval of our workers; and if we find it of real value, we ought to adopt it generally. On the other hand, we should give careful study to those features that are criticized, and if we find the criticism well-founded, we should decide to eliminate them from our advertising. "I might mention some of the methods of advertising with which many of our workers and our people are not pleased:— "First, the extent to which the evangelist advertises himself by the use of his photograph, and the use of statements regarding himself,—where he is from, his former success, and the manner in which he will present his subjects. "Second, the use of too many and too strong adjectives in describing his tent, outfit, subjects, music, etc. "Third, the number and the character of the illustrations used. "I am aware that we hold different views, and that all may be alike sincere and earnest in their views; but it does seem that we ought to reach common ground on so important a question as making public announcements. In many instances our public announcements are the first information people receive of us. First impressions, as we all know, are lasting, and will have much to do in leading to a decision to attend our meetings or to remain away. Surely all will admit that the announcements of religious meetings should be appropriate to the character of the subjects to be presented. A religious service is altogether different from an opera or a circus, and should be advertised in harmony with its character." A. J. Clark: "I believe that in dealing with the question of advertising, we16should deal with it from the standpoint of the message that we bear. It is the message that we are endeavoring to get before the people; and while every individual should use individuality in the matter of advertising, there are certain methods that, for the sake of the message and the individual, we ought to discourage; and we are here to decide what those methods are. I believe that such words as 'great' and 'prominent,' when used of the speaker, savor of self-praise and boasting, and that we ought to put ourselves on record as opposing that kind of advertising. As we look back over the history of this cause, we see some who have held themselves up before the people. Some of them are not in the message to-day; and when they went out of the message, many of their admirers went out with them. They followed the man instead of the message. In all our work it is the message that we must place before the people as being great, and not ourselves nor our sermons." A. V. Cotton: "I believe in plenty of advertising. We must remember that we are living in a time of popular advertising, and the people of the world expect it. While we should strive to magnify the truth and the subject to be presented, yet we can not divorce a man's personality from the advertising matter. It is sure to come out. To my mind, you will have to change the personality of a man if you expect to change the character of his advertising. The use of photographs is a form of education. The newspapers make free use of photographs of individuals in connection with special news items. It is so in advertising a series of meetings; the people expect to see the photograph of the man connected with the effort, unless it is in a small town where the people become acquainted with the man by seeing him on the streets. But in the city it is natural for the people to look for the photograph of the man advertising his meetings. In that case, I favor having the photographs on the advertisement." R. E. Harter: "No doubt those who adopt methods of advertising which approach the sensational do so because they feel that this is the only way to secure a large audience. Some of our evangelists secure an audience of from four hundred to five hundred every Sunday night during a series of meetings, without using sensational methods of advertising, or expending large sums of money. They advertise in a simple way, and carry on systematic work. They secure good attendances, and many people accept the truth. It has been demonstrated over and over again that we can secure large congregations and bring people into the truth without sensational advertising." K. C. Russell: "The use of the speaker's photograph and other striking illustrations seem to be becoming more general among us. I think that in my work in the future, I shall omit the photographs. Speakers of other organizations attract good audiences without the use of photographs. One of the great secrets in advertising is to keep in touch with the public pulse, especially in the cities where we are laboring, and then form our subjects in a way that will appeal to the people." J. L. McElhany: "I would like to mention one effort that came under my notice. A man had a great banner printed—'Hear the noted Evangelist from London at the Tent.' He stretched this across the principal street in the town. The first night he had a full tent, the second night a fairly good audience, and then the work fell flat, because the ability of the 'noted evangelist' was not up to what was suggested by his banner. If he had used a little more modesty in his advertising, the people might have been more tolerant when they heard him." G. B. Thompson: "I think that in advertising we should always keep well within the limits of truth. If a man is able to deliver a series of great sermons, it might be proper to say so. If he is not able to do this, he should not say so. There is a difference between a great series of sermons, a series of great sermons, and a series of sermons on great subjects. We should use care in our advertising, which will commend our work to sensible people." C. H. Edwards: "I think that in advertising we must be governed by the conditions we find in different localities. New York City is different from a small town. In New York City a man encounters great difficulties in securing an audience. He must, therefore, adopt methods that will meet the special conditions. In my opinion much of the criticism that comes from the methods of advertising in the large cities is from those who are not acquainted with the conditions that have to be met." A. R. Bell: "In a great measure I agree with Brother Edwards. I believe that sensationalism in advertising is the praise that boosts the man, and the foolishness that illustrates the subject. There is a certain personality that enters into every man's work; so we can not form many concrete resolutions here. Let us pass resolutions of a general advisory character, but not with the understanding that all men must advertise in the same way." L. T. Nicola: "I believe the people of New York City can distinguish between that which is sensational and that which is substantial and solid. Last summer we advertised our tent on 124th Street, in New York, as 'the big tent.' There was another tent near there much larger than ours, and one Sunday night one of the speakers of that tent referred to the advertising of our tent. He said that our tent would go twice inside of theirs, and yet we advertised it as 'the big tent.' I believe that we made a mistake in doing that way under the circumstances." G. B. Starr: "I would like to make a suggestion in regard to modesty and the subject of individuality as involved in this matter of sensationalism. It seems to me we have come to the time when we can not allow young, untried men to go out to represent this work and all its issues without very careful investigation of their ideas of the plan. While it is proper to recognize individuality, yet every man who goes out represents the denomination, and should not work in a manner that is contrary to the wishes of the denomination or that will bring criticism upon himself. The workers in some of our cities have asked to be excused from distributing advertising matter, because of its sensational character. I believe that if one half of the money expended on sensational advertising during the past year or two had been used in circulating information on present truth, we should have received much better results. I do not believe it is right, because some man has a certain individuality, that he should go out and misrepresent us all. We must study the people we are to reach. Are we going to reach people who are interested only in sensational advertising?" A. G. Daniells: "Should not a minister be as careful and conscientious about putting his personality into his advertising as he should in exalting himself in preaching his sermons? I believe that we should spend more time in studying how to work our subject-matter into announcements. The subjects should be so clearly and wisely stated as to appeal to people. Let us encourage Christian modesty, and adopt methods by which the truth will be placed in the forefront, and made to appeal to those who read our announcements." L. A. Hansen: "We can draw lessons from Christ's public ministry in this matter. If he were here to-day, and made use of our publicity methods, would it be to advertise himself, or would it be to call attention to his message? John the Baptist did not herald himself, but he drew large crowds. Even the Holy Spirit does not speak of himself. Men of power, such as Moody, do not need to tell of themselves in order to secure an audience. Their message speaks for itself and for them. If we lay emphasis on the message we have, people can pass judgment on that, and not on the men who give it. People should come to hear the truth that is given, not merely to hear the man. The man may not warrant strong advertising, but the subjects will; and if properly presented, they will not disappoint, while he may." At the close of the discussion of this subject, a committee was appointed to prepare resolutions to be presented at a subsequent meeting. This committee reported the following resolutions, which were adopted:— "Whereas, We are exhorted by the Lord to give 'no offense in anything, that the ministry be not blamed; but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God,' walking 'worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness,' be it therefore,— "1. Resolved, That in giving publicity to our evangelistic efforts, we should avoid all that borders on sensationalism, and shun every expression that savors of self-exaltation, always endeavoring to magnify and exalt the message instead of the man. "2. Resolved, That we discourage the general use of our photographs in advertising our meetings; that we would especially caution our young and inexperienced workers in this particular. "3. Resolved, That we recommend that only such cartoons or illustrations be used as are of a dignified and modest character, which will teach the truth in a clear and elevating manner, avoiding all illustrations which caricature and burlesque. "4. Resolved, That in advertising we maintain a high and dignified standard, in subject-matter, workmanship, and quality of material, ever seeking to exalt the message we are hearing." A. G. DANIELLS, Chairman:
THADDEUS LEGG, Secretary.