CHURCHES AND ADVERTISING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2425, 13 February 1909, Page 5

CHURCHES AND ADVERTISING.

In religion, as in commerce, adi'ertising (lvrites the New York correspondent of the London “Daily Telegraph”). is the keynote of success. The Rev. Francis Poole, pastor of the Congregational Churcli at Garre, Y ermont, is responsible for that maxim. and he tells us today that by means of a carefully-worded advertisement in tho Saturday papers, telling people what rhe church is doing each Sunday, he has doubled his congregation m three vears. The Rev. W. J. Dawson, formerly of Highbury Quadrant. London, one of the best knoAvn English evangelists in New York, is in complete agreement. He is haying the same experience here as Mr. Poole in Garre. Recently, by way of a novelty, ho startled Now Yorkers by a novel religious procession, preceded by a hush cross of incandescent lights 10ft high. Mr. Dawson and his entire congregation paraded the streets, singing in chorus tho stirring strains ol “Onward, Christian Soldiers.” Hundreds upon hundreds from tho streets fell into line,, and followed the fiery emblem. Even the occupants of three or four taxi-cabs ordered their machines to proceed slowly in tho rear, and joined in the hymn-singing. Two thousand or more thronged into St. George’s Church, where Mr. Dawson conducted revival services, ivhen the blazing cross led the way through the church doors. Nothing hut reverence and enthusiasm greeted the procession along tho line of march. Among the vestrymen of St. George’s arc Mr. Piorpont Morgan, the financier, and Mr. Seth Loav, formerly Mayor of Noav York, aaliosc long, though unsuccessful campaign to secure the honorable administration of municipal affairs entitles him to a high place in the list of American reformers.