The Use of Films and Slides
In my experience I have found that a film lecture will draw a crowd above the average number attending the meetings. Although it may be argued that some attend an illustrated lecture just for the pictures, we must bear in mind that there is opportunity for these same people to be impressed by the words of the evangelist. And too, their attendance is a source of encouragement because of the larger number. It is common knowledge that impressions made through the eye gate are deeper and therefore more lasting than those received through the ear gate. When films and slides are used, both channels play a part in sending home the vital truths of the word.
Often in conducting an effort it is necessary to repeat certain subjects for emphasis and for the benefit of those newly interested who were not in attendance at the earlier meetings. A film meets this situation admirably. The subject is thus dealt with in a different way, and truth is given further emphasis. Counter-attractions, which inevitably come during an evangelistic campaign at such holiday seasons as Christmas and Easter, often threaten us with smaller audiences. We should be equipped to meet this situation by having a topical film which would without doubt help to hold the audience, as well as attract those who attend places of worship on such occasions only.
Not all subjects lend themselves to the film or slide method, but prophetic lectures like Daniel 2, 7, and 8, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, Christian evidences, and up-to-date signs of the times in pictorial form, may be made to live forever in the minds of the audience. The value of this method is quickly lowered if the speaker does not have it well organized, and does not use good equipment. He should have a good screen, in the right position, with a reliable lantern or projector-scope operated by one who understands the instrument.
It is certainly not advisable to keep the hall in complete darkness the whole time. The personal contact between speaker and listener is of great importance. As one of our evangelists has said, "It is the flash of the eye, brethren." When coming to an important phase of the subject which needs emphasizing, the lights could be raised to half power, so as not to dazzle the audience suddenly, thus allowing the speaker to enlarge his point by personal conviction or experience.
With the film slides, as with all other good things, too frequent use robs them of their appeal. The frequent use of the film for the midweek service should not be overlooked. Great care has to be taken when using films from commercial firms to see that there is no doctrinal error portrayed in pictures. Finally, we must not let the film take the meeting. It is the evangelist who has to make the subject live.
Blotters in Advertising
By W. D. FRAZEE, Evangelist, New Orleans, Louisiana
In the preliminary advertising for our last I effort, we prepared blotters, printed in two colors, announcing the series of meetings. These were distributed to the offices in the city by some of our representative sisters of the church.
We felt that this was a very pleasing method of advertising, as it offered something useful as well as a daily reminder of the meetings. A blotter is something that will not be refused, as handbills so frequently are, in office buildings.
The title on the blotter should be short and appealing and of a general nature, covering the message to be given during the series of lectures. Suggestive titles are: "The Message for This Hour," "Bible Prophecy Points the Way Out." The time and the place should stand out in bold type, not hidden by too much other printing. (Cut shown in blotter can be obtained from T. K. Martin, 8 Ash Avenue, Takoma Park, D.C.)
This plan can be enlarged by following it up in a few weeks with a fresh blotter of the same or different design, thus making another opportunity for extending an invitation to the meetings. One such blotter is reproduced herewith.
"Thy Speech Betrayeth Thee"
By A. N. ANDERSON, Missionary, Philippine Islands
There are few books that contain so many I proper names as the Holy Scriptures. Most of these come to us from the Hebrew, a language which is decidedly different from most modern tongues. Other linguistic origins of the thousands of names we read in the Bible are from the Greek, Latin, Persian, Aramaic (both Eastern and Western), Egyptian, and Canaanite, not to mention the many lesser ethnic sources.
As Anglicized, a large number of proper names are quite familiar to the English reader. But even with familiar names, glaring mistakes are all too frequent by otherwise well-educated persons who ought to know better. A speaker's influence for good is often greatly discounted or even nullified by those who judge him by his poor pronunciation. To the discriminating, inaccurate pronunciation on the part of a speaker betrays him as a person lacking culture.
In certain languages such as the Japanese, the problem of pronunciation is practically negligible. A fixed syllabary, rather than an alphabet, takes care of the varying sounds of all the words. But in English, the spelling is sadly lacking as a criterion. To those who have been struggling along, mispronouncing a host of names, simply because of bad habits due to laziness or to sheer ignorance, a great joy will be experienced by the humble, industrious use of a self-pronouncing Bible, or a dictionary. Brethren, let us take ourselves in hand.
